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CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Minutes - June 16 2009
Present: Scott Kerry, Chair; Nan Balmer, Judy Cannon, John Knight, Stephen Wasby
The meeting commenced at 5:05pm and was adjourned at 6:30pm.
The minutes of the June 2 meeting were approved as distributed by the Clerk.
Information from Town Counsel was distributed. John Knight suggested, and it was agreed, that it be read for the next meeting. Scott Kerry reported on his conversation with Jack Slavin, and dates of our meetings and the agenda for posting on the website. He also reported his contact with the president of the Eastham Part-Time Resident Taxpayers Association (EPTRA).
As to the Charter provisions on the agenda, John Knight moved (Nan Balmer second) that Article I in its entirety be accepted without change. Approved, 5-0. Knight moved (Steve Wasby second) that Article II in its entirety be accepted without change. Approved 5-0.
Wasby suggested that the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer be invited to appear at the next meeting, because we will be considering Article III including their positions, particularly how they are chosen. Knight raised the question of keeping the positions elective until incumbents retired (or, Wasby suggested, some fixed future time). After discussion of a proposed motion,
Wasby moved (Balmer) second, that the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer be informed that the Charter Review Committee will consider at its July 14 meeting the question of how those positions should be filled and any other aspects of those positions, and that they be invited to meet with the committee at that time to discuss these matters. Approved, 5-0.
The next meetings will be July 14, July 21, and August 18 (when the schedule for September will be discussed). The agenda for July 14 will be Article III. There was extended discussion of who should be invited or specifically asked to comment, and whether the same standard should apply to all. As suggested by Kerry, the Town Moderator will be asked if she wishes to attend, and, as per John Knight’s suggestion, letters will be sent to the Eastham School Board, Housing Authority, and Board of Library Trustees inviting them to submit comments. Selectman David Schropfer is now the Selectmen’s liaison to the committee, and he will be asked to convey to the Board of Selectmen the committee’s interest in their comments. These proposals were combined in a motion by Scott
Kerry, adopted 5-0. At the July 21 meeting, the agenda will be Article IV (and any work to be completed on Article III). The Town Administrator will be invited to attend that meeting. The chair will also place a short item in the Cape Codder indicating our interest in comments and referring people to the Town website.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen L. Wasby, Clerk
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