CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Minutes - February 22 2010
Members present: Scott Kerry, chair; Judy Cannon, John Knight, Stephen Wasby
Member absent: Nan Balmer
Others present: Selectman Aimee Eckman
The meeting, at Eastham Town Hall, began at 5:00PM and ended at 6:40PM.
The minutes of January 12 2010 were accepted with one minor addition, 3-0-1.
Selectman Aimee Eckman explained a change in the communication she had sent to the Committee, to delete the job description for Town Treasurer/Collector. On behalf of Joanna
Stevens, Ms. Eckman explained Ms. Stevens’ proposed changes, concerning the selection of
the Nauset Regional School Committee. There was discussion of what was within the Charter Review Committee’s authority as to provisions relating to the Nauset Regional School Committee and about the status of the Union 54 entity. It was decided not to mention Union 54
in the charter. After some discussion of making changes in Ms. Stevens’ proposed language, it
was moved, seconded, and approved, 4-0, to insert “Eastham” at two locations, to strike
3-8G(3), to eliminate the second sentence of 3-8H, and to rewrite the first sentence of 3-8H, so that the entire sections 3-8G and H would read:
G. There shall be a school committee consisting of five members elected for terms of three years each, so arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number of members as is possible shall expire each year. The Eastham Elementary School Committee shall have all of the powers and duties which are given to school committees by General Laws and it shall have such additional powers and duties as may be authorized by this Charter, by bylaw, or by Town Meeting vote. The powers of the Eastham Elementary School Committee shall include but are not intended to be limited to the following:
(1) To make all reasonable rules and regulations consistent with law for the
administration and management of the public school system, and for the conduct of its business and affairs;
(2) To vote on matters associated with the appointment and removal of officers and employees of the school system, including fixing their compensation, defining their duties, making rules regarding their tenure in office, and discharging them as may be necessary.
H. At least one representative shall be elected to the Nauset Regional School Committee, for a term of three years. Any terms shall be arranged so that terms will expire in different years.
Ms. Eckman was requested to inquire into who has the authority to allocate seats on the Nauset Regional School Committee, as Eastham would appear to have less than its proper number, although it is recognized that this is not a matter for inclusion in the Charter.
February 22 2010 - Minutes - p. 2
Committee members read a letter sent to the Committee by Treasurer/Collector Joan Plante. .
After resolving which the provisions the Committee had already voted upon and those on which further editorial changes had been made, the Committee considered a number of matters from its meeting with the Board of Selectmen.
(1) Because budgets from the various school committees do not arrive at the same time, a change in the first sentence of C6-2B was necessary, and it will be changed to read:
“On receipt of the budgets for the Eastham School Committee, Nauset Regional School Committee, and Vocational School Committee, each budget shall be submitted simultaneously to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee.” Moved, seconded, approved 4-0.
(2) Because C6-2D still contained language about publication, it is be changed to read:
“D. The Finance Committee shall vote and issue its recommendations and detailed
explanations of all financial articles in an Annual Finance Committee Report, which shall be available at least fourteen (14) days prior to the schedule date of the Annual Town Meeting.”
Moved, seconded, approved 4-0.
(3) Because C5-2G failed to have a provision for declaring a vacancy, a new sentence and clause shall be inserted after “forthwith,” to read as follows: “Upon receipt of such a recommendation, the appointing authority shall vote on whether to declare a vacancy. For any vacancy created in this manner, the appointing authority shall fill the vacancy in accord with the General Laws and this Charter.”
Moved/seconded, approved 4-0.
Judy Cannon expressed her continuing concern about aspects of appointing the Town Treasurer/ Collector. To permit discussion, John Knight, in the previous majority, moved, and it was seconded, and approved, 3-1, to reconsider the Warrant article dealing with the subject. After some discussion and a clear indication that the majority had not changed its views as to appointment to the position, Ms. Cannon stated her concern about the cumbersome nature of the selection process. After the chair identified the earlier-approved language, Chairman Kerry and Stephen Wasby said they’d be willing to look at new clarifying language. It was decided to continue that discussion at the next meeting, so it was moved, seconded, and approved, 4-0, to table the item.
Chairman Kerry declared that we would have a public hearing. It was decided to have one more Commitee meeting, then a public hearing, and then, depending on what develops at the public hearing, to have another Committee meeting.
The next committee meeting will be on Tuesday, March 2, at 5pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen L. Wasby, Clerk
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