HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-19 ad Hoc Charter Review Committee MinutesCharter Review Committee Meeting
February 19, 2004
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Police Station Community Room, 15 Union
Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Committee
Members Bill Griset, Glen Hartzler, Maria Silvaggi, Chuck Robinson, George
Theophanis and Bill Brown. Also present were School Committee Member John Russo,
Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner (joined the meeting at approximately 8:10 p.m.),
Town Counsel John Gannon (joined the meeting at approximately 8:30 p.m.).
John Russo presented a memo dated February 19, 2004 regarding recommended changes
to the Charter. The purpose is to "prevent any group of elected officials on the School
Committee from preventing another elected official from speaking about his or her
agenda items." The Charter Review Committee had a great deal of discussion with Mr.
Russo and indicated that they would consider his concerns as part of the review.
Approval of Minutes
On motion by Hines seconded by Silvaui, the minutes of the meeting of January 22,
2004 were approved, as amended, by a vote of 7-0-0.
The Charter Review Committee used the outline that was developed on January 30th for
their call-in show to review what changes there was consensus on as follows:
1. Number of members of Town Meeting. There was a great deal of discussion
on alternatives including a 24 member council and the need to retain the repre-
sentative nature of the representative Town Meeting. There was discussion
about changing the start time.
On motion by Silvaggi seconded by Brown, the Charter Review Committee voted to
not change the number of members of Town Meeting by a vote of 6-0-1, with Hines
abstaining.
Glen Hartzler brought up the issue of breaking a tie vote for write ins for the Election.
He felt that a special act had been approved by the Legislature to address this issue only
for the redistricting election. The Town Manager pointed out that Chapter 57 which is a
special act was approved on February 25, 2002 (it was not received following approval
by the Town Clerk's Office until August 22"d and therefore was not in the latest version
of the Charter), and the Committee agreed not to make any change based on this.
2. The discussion about whether 2.12 should be amended to provide for Finance
Committee members being able to serve on Ad Hoc Committees or Task Forces.
The consensus of the Committee was that no change is needed. The Charter
is clear that they may serve.
Charter Review Committee Meeting - February 19, 2004 - Page 2
There was discussion on expanding the Bylaw Committees purview to include special
acts, local acceptances in the Charter.
On motion by Brown seconded by Hines, the Charter Review Committee voted to
change 2.12 Bylaw Committee to add in the third line after Bylaws, "Charter, and
special acts or local acceptances of State statutes which is subject to acceptance by
Town Meeting". The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by Hartzler seconded by Brown, the Charter Review Committee
considered an amendment which would modify the third line (second sentence of the
Bylaw Committee section) to read "The Bylaw Committee may propose and shall
consider..." This motion was not approved by a vote of 2-4-0.
The Committee had a great deal of discussion on the Rules Committee. The section has
typos in it from the Charter amendment which was approved by the voters and the
scribner errors will be corrected. Opinions ranged from strengthening the Rules
Committee section to eliminating it. There was no consensus on making any change.
In Section 2-9, Town Counsel John Gannon will check to see if the Town Clerk can
swear in Town Meeting Members.
In Section 2-8, the consensus of the Committee was to modify the third section to read
"he may administer the oath of office to any Town officer and to Town Meeting
Members."
3. Warrant Articles - There was discussion on the number of signatures needed
to submit an Article to the Subsequent Town Meeting. The Subsequent Town
Meeting is considered a Special Town Meeting under State statute but still is
a distinct type of meeting under Reading's Home Rule Charter.
On motion by Brown seconded by Hartzler, the Charter Review Committee agreed
that for Anniial Town Meetings and Subsequent Town Meetings, ten signatures will
be required for a petition Warrant Article, and for Special Town Meetings, one
hundred signatures will be required. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-1-1.
4. There was discussion about a proposed Land Advisory Committee proposed by
George Theophanis.
On motion by Hartzler seconded by Griset, the Charter Review Committee voted to
include the Land Advisory Committee under Section 2-12 by a vote of 5-1-1, with
Brown opposed and Hines abstaining.
Hines noted that he still wanted to revisit the issue for both the Bylaw Committee and the
Land Advisory Committee that the appointments be made similar to having a Finance
Appointment Committee.
Charter Review Committee Meeting - February 19, 2004 - Page 3
The Committee discussed that the next meetings will be on March l ltn and March 25tH
Rather than bring the full Committee into the Selectmen's Meeting to discuss progress,
George Hines will mention it under the Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments at a
Selectmen's Meeting.
On motion by Brown seconded by Griset, the Charter Review Committee voted to
adjourn their meeting of February 19, 2004 at 9:45 p.m. by a vote of 7-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary