HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-05-13 ad Hoc Charter Review Committee MinutesCharter Review Committee Meeting
May 13, 2004 ` S.
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The meeting convened at 7:40 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Maria Silvaggi, Bill Brown, Chuck Robinson, Bill Griset
and George Hines (arrived at approximately 8:15 p.m.). Also present were Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner and Town Counsel Joan Langsam (arrived late).
Bill Brown chaired the beginning part of the meeting.
On motion by Robinson seconded by Griset, the Charter Review Committee approved the
Minutes of April 22, 2004 by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Committee went through the review of the specific language in the Charter. The Committee
agreed to amend Section 2-3 to require that people running for Town Meeting be registered
voters.
The Committee agreed to amend Section 2-5 to require that people being nominated for Town
Meeting would be registered voters.
The Committee reviewed Section 2-12 and agreed on the Land Advisory Committee on the
language and membership in the first paragraph. They also agreed that the first sentence in the
second paragraph would read "the Land Advisory Committee shall report to Town Meeting on
all proposed takings, coveyances, acquisitions and dispositions of Town owned land, all
proposed takings and releases of Town owned easements and all proposed street acceptances,
when any of the foregoing require Town Meeting approval or petition to the General Court.
The Committee pointed out a typographical error in Section 4-10 in the last paragraph.
In Section 6-3, Department of Public Works, Paragraph A, the term "and cemetery services" will
be added to the end.
In Section 6-4 Town Counsel, there is a typographical error in Section B.
In Section 8-7 Definitions, Multiple-Member Bodies, a sentence will be added that states "all
multiple member bodies shall be bound by all Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
In Section 8-1l(a), the second paragraph will read "ballot positions beginning with incumbents
and followed by non-incumbents, shall be determined by lottery conducted by the Town Clerk."
The Town Manager and Town Counsel will review Section 8-12 and language that Bill Brown
submitted and put together a proposed revision.
Charter Review Committee MeetingMay 13, 2004 - Page 2
There was discussion on Section 7-10 as proposed by Town Counsel dealing with the Building
Maintenance Budget. Bill Griset feels that the proposed language is contrary to Ed Reform and
that one cannot have a Charter provision contrary to a State law. Town Counsel Gary Brackett
will review and develop a memo for the Committee addressing this issue. Included in that memo
will be a citation of the authority.
George Hines reminded the Committee that he was concerned about appointment of any
volunteer, Board, Committee or Commission by a single person, and suggested the following:
In Section 2-12, there should be a Bylaw Committee Appointment Committee
the same as the Finance Committee Appointment Committee.
2. He suggested language that would prohibit Town Meeting from establishing
a committee that would be appointed only by a single member. The Town
Manager and Town Counsel will draft language for the Committee's discussion.
The Committee discussed their schedule and decided to meet on May 27th, on June 9th for a
hearing and then on June 24th if needed.
On motion by Brown seconded by Griset, the Charter Review Committee voted to adjourn
their meeting of May 13, 2004 at 9:35 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
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