HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-07-02 Bylaw Committee MinutesBYLAW COMMITTEE MINUTES #188
July 2, 1991
7:35 p.m. Meeting called to order by Chairman Phil Pacino in the Arnold Berger Room of
Town Hall.
Members present: Phil Pacino, Ed Murphy, George Theophanis, Jack Russell and
Dolores Carroll.
Minutes of Meeting #187 approved, as amended, by a vote of 5-0.
Guests present: Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Town Meeting Member Gloria Hulse.
Peter was present to address the instructional motion of Robert Lynch which would allow
ticketing power to the Zoning Enforcement Officer. He feels that with the regionalization of four
communities a possibility in September and one inspector responsible for these communities, the
ticketing bylaw would be very effective. Further, that ticketing is a tool to be used when we
develop an effective system, however, it won't cause instant changes. It would not be effective
now, but should be put on the books for future use.
The Committee agreed to invite Town Counsel Ted Cohen to our next meeting for further
clarification.
Gloria Hulse feels her instructional motion to discontinue mailing warrants to Town Meeting
Members would prove cost effective for the Town, with Peter recommending that the warrants be
placed in envelopes and distributed at the Police Station. At 5:00 p.m., the evening of Town
Meeting, the remaining warrants would be brought to Town Meeting for distribution.
Jack Russell proposed amending Article 3, Section 3.4.2 of the Bylaws, by replacing shall mail with
shall make and inserting available after recommendations (line 2), with Gloria agreeing to the
changes.
George Theophanis read a letter he prepared to send to Gail Wood, Captain of Precinct 2, in
reference to the removal of Town Meeting Members even if re-elected at the last Annual Election
(see attached).
Bylaw Committee reorganized for the coming year with Philip Pacino as Chairman and
Dolores Carroll as Clerk.
Next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 1991.
8:45 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dolores S. Carroll
L~u1F[lU Tommiftet
Muntripttl jluilbing
July 5, 1991
Mrs. Gail F. Wood
Chairman, Precinct 2
213 Pleasant Street
Reading, MA 01867
Dear Gail:
The Bylaw Committee has considered the issue of removal from office of a newly elected
Town Meeting Member because of excessive absence. Section 2.6 of the Reading Charter
states in part, "If any person elected as a Town Meeting Member.... fails to attend one-half
or more of the total Town Meeting sessions within one year preceding the most recent
Annual Town Election, his seat may be declared vacant by a majority vote of Town
Meeting." Since there is no mention of whether or not the affected member was re-elected
at the referenced Town Election, it must be assured that this provision applies in either
case.
The Bylaw Committee sees no compelling reason to change this provision and recommends
that the precincts continue to exercise their authority as provided in the Bylaws.
They may or may not chose to consider re-election as a mitigating circumstance in
formulating their recommendation to Town Meeting.
4VYe truly yours,
B. taciro
Chairman
cc: Paul C. Dustin, Moderator
Sally C. Nitzche (1)
Victor R. Carlson (3)
Henry A. Higgott (5)
Robert R. Lynch (6)
C. Dewey Smith (7)
Frederick Van Magness (8)
Ratting, fital"Ourbusetts Gnu 617-$42-8580