HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-08-22 Bylaw Committee Minutes2404L 1 8/23/89 GT/DE
Town of Reading s Committee
Minutes No. August 22, 1989
The Rules Committee met in-joint session with the Bylaw Committee in the
conference room of the Public Library at 7:30 P.M. Rules Committee members
present were:
V. Adams
H. Higgott
G. Theophanis
Bylaw Committee members present were:
E. Murphy
D. Carrol
N. Nordberg
G. Theophanis
Guests were Gerald Fiore, former Finance Committee chairman and Charter
Commission member and John Milano. Discussion commenced with the budget
consideration process. First considered was the issue of reentering the
budget after passage of certain line items to make adjustments. Next was the
form of consideration ie omnibus or line item, then information required of
department heads by Town Meeting on the budget. Fiore gave background as to
the rationale for the Finance Committee structure as revised by the Charter.
Murphy presented draft articles on reentering the budget prepared by P. Pacino
and N. Nordberg, members of the Bylaw Committee. Theophanis proposed allowing
the Moderator to set the rules on consideration form and reenter the budget
through an amendment to the reconsideration bylaw. Nordberg suggested
enacting a rule in the bylaws stating that if the Moderator is going to
establish a procedure for handling such issues as amendments, substitute
motion, the budget consideration form he shall promulgate those rules in
writing. Theophanis will prepare the appropriate amendments.
Members of both committees still felt that no action should be taken on
budget presentation format and information since the Town Manager is under
instructoriai motion to provide more information.
Discussion turned to expanding the number of Town Meetings. Fiore
preferred another regularly scheduled meeting as opposed to more specials.
Nordberg, Murphy and Carrol had no particular preference.
The final report of the Budget Format Review Committee dated April 29,
1988 was read, and it was noted that essentially all seven recommendations had
been complied with.
Fiore explained the Charter Commission's motivation in creating the
Rules Committee was to form a body representing and acting as the voice of the
Town Meeting members to improve the conduct of Town Meeting sessions.
Next meeting was tentatively set for Septemb 1.9 .
Respectfully submitted,
G rge Theopha, i s -