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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-09 ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Minutes-IZI~L'.,~^/ C(,I~AK Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Meeting June 9, 2004 . GE I VED I_Q`;k' CLERK _A DING, LASS. 1004 JUL -1 A 10: 13 The meeting convened in the Audio Visual Room at the Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines (who arrived late), Committee Members Bill Brown, Maria Silvaggi, Glen Hartzler, Chuck Robinson and Bill Griset, Phil Pacino (filling in for George Theophanis from the Bylaw Committee), and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. Bill Brown opened the meeting and asked for a moment of silence in memory of former President Ronald Reagan. The Town Manager read the notice of the hearing. He indicated that we were live on RCTV Cable TV and would be able to accept telephone calls. The Town Manager indicated that he would fill in for George Hines in the presentation on particular sections until Mr. Hines arrived. He also indicated that he received a marked up copy from Tom Ryan pointing out grammatical changes that should be made. The Town Manager reviewed proposed changes in Article 1. Bill Brown reviewed Article 2. He made a suggested change in Section 2-6 in paragraph one on vacancies for clarification. - Phil Pacino reviewed a memo from George Theophanis urging the Committee to restore to the proposed Charter the Land Use Committee. Mr. Pacino also expressed concern about the proposed requirement of 10 write-in votes to be elected to Town Meeting, and later 50 write-in votes to be elected to any of the elected bodies in Article 3. There was discussion on both but no motion to make any change. Maria Silvaggi reviewed Article 3. The Town Manager noted that a clarification may be appropriate in Article 3, Section 3-5 to clarify that the Light Board's approval of contracts is intended to apply to contracts over the bid threshold limit under Article 30B which currently is $25,000. The consensus of the committee was that this was appropriate. George Hines arrived at the meeting. He reviewed Article 4. The Town Manager noted that in the Selectmen's Liaison Reports last evening, there was a suggestion that the Council on Aging membership should be reduced from 10 members to some lesser number. This will be left at 10 members currently but reviewed with the Council on Aging and the Board of Selectmen. Bill Griset wanted to be clear that the changes proposed in Article 4, Section 10 for ad hoc committees leaves it up to the Board, Committee or Commission establishing the ad hoc committee to delegate appointment to the Chairman if they choose to do so. Chuck Robinson reviewed Article 5 - Town Manager. The Town Manager suggested that the proposed changes in Section 5-5d - Severance should apply to a future Town Manager but not to the current one. This could be a change and perhaps an increase in benefit to the current Town -.aaaKb- V.-I 11VLV.,. 1-1 1- 1UUtAV - VVVll V1VU511~ uj✓ FI1 VIWu0.j L and the Committee declined to make that restriction. George Hines agreed. Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Meeting - June 9, 2004 - Pa ee22 Bill Griset reviewed Article 6. Chuck Robinson reviewed Article 7 on finances and fiscal procedures. The only change proposed in Article 7 is the addition of Section 7-10 on building maintenance. Bill Griset again reiterated that he felt this section would be contrary to the intent of the Ed Reform Act, with Town Counsel's opinion to the contrary. Bill Brown reviewed Article 8. Phil Pacino noted George Theophanis' concern about the language that was added to item F for multiple member bodies that states "all multiple member bodies should be bound by all of the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." George Theophanis was concerned that this would be more restrictive than the Home Rule Charter. Following considerable discussion, on a motion by Hartzler seconded by Brown, the ad hoc Charter Review Committee voted to delete this language from the proposed Charter amendments. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager noted that in the packet for this meeting was a memo from him dated May 28, 2004 regarding the issue of whether Town Meeting Members had to be registered voters. With this research which was aided by Bill Brown, the issue is put to rest and there is no need to include this matter in the Charter amendments. C The Town Manager noted that we had done some research and found a March 21, 1906 Town Meeting vote that established the Land Bank Committee. The Board of Selectmen under the Charter can establish the powers and duties of the Land Bank Committee and the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen had indicated his intent to bring this to the Board of Selectmen. This would be in lieu of providing for a land review committee as part of the Charter. On motion by Brown seconded by Griset, the ad hoc Charter Review Committee voted to close the hearing by a vote of 6-0-0. On motion by Brown seconded by Silvaggi, the ad hoc Charter Review Committee voted to approve the minutes of May 27, 2004, as amended, by a vote of 6-0-0. There was discussion as to whether or not there should be a motion to recommend the entire body of the proposed Charter amendments to the Board of Selectmen. The consensus was that the Committee had already voted each amendment and there is no need to vote the entirety. On motion by Griset seconded b Silvaggi, the ad hoc Charter Review Committee voted to adjourn their meeting of June 9, 2004 at 8:50 p.m. on a vote of 6-0-0. Respectfully submitted,