MASHPEE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
WAQUOIT MEETING ROOM – TOWN HALL
Present: Ed Larkin, Terrie Cook, Chuck Gasior, Scott McGee, Mike Richardson, Mary Waygan, Richard Halpern, Wayne Taylor, and Don Myers (arrived 6:35 p.m.).
Also: Deb Dami – Town Clerk
Audience: Geoff Spillane – Mashpee Enterprise
Ed Larkin, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Mike Richardson motioned to approve the regular meeting minutes of October 28, 2013.
Chuck Gasior seconded the motion.
VOTE: 6-Yes; 2-Abstain.
Roll call Vote:
Chuck Gasior, yes Mike Richardson, yes
Terrie Cook, yes Wayne Taylor, abstain
Ed Larkin, yes Scott McGee, yes
Richard Halpern, abstain Mary Waygan, yes
Citizen Participation…none.
New Business
Section 7 Review
Sec 7-7(a) – Charter Review. Should Charter Review be done every 5 years, rather than every 10 years? Since Charter reads “at least” every 10 years, could Board of Selectmen appoint a committee every 5 years to do Charter Review, or even to review a certain part of the Charter?
Action Items:
- Consider whether or not to add a sentence that states the Board of Selectmen can appoint a committee to review a portion of the Charter or to study a particular item under the Charter. If complete Charter Review to be done, then Sec 7-7(a) as worded would apply.
- Also, statement should be included to reflect that the Board of Selectmen can trigger the Charter Review prior to 10 years.
- Clarify that anyone appointed to the Charter Review Committee is to be a registered voter of Mashpee.
Sec 7-7(b) – By-Law Review. Deb Dami asked whether this is necessary. Ed Larkin said the initial goal of By-Law Review was to deal with any By-Laws in conflict with the Charter. Wayne Taylor commented that it was the thinking of the By-Law Review group that it is good to review to be sure everything is in order. All agreed it should be done and should be done in conjunction with the Charter Review.
Sec 7-8(b) – Rules and Journal. Last sentence of this section reads: “For the convenience of the public copies of these rules and journals shall be kept available in the public library but only the originals in the possession of the multiple member body shall be deemed to be the ‘official’ record.” However, “official” records are kept by Town Clerk, not by the committee(s). In addition, public records are not stored at the public library as stated. Also, it should be stated that electronic copy should be on Town Website.
Action: This paragraph should be amended to reflect these points. In addition Sec 3-4(b) does not state that Town Clerk shall be “official” keeper of records, but should state that.
Sec 7-8(c) – Voting. This section reads “Except on procedural matters the vote of each member of all multiple member bodies shall be recorded in the journal, provided, however, that if the vote is unanimous only that fact need be recorded.”
Action: Should it be changed to state that if the vote is unanimous a roll-call vote needs to be recorded?
Section 8 Review
Sec 8 – Screening Committee. First paragraph.
Action: If vacancy occurs in the office of the Town Manager, then who acts as the Screening Committee?
Old Business
Subcommittee update on proposed Charter Report…Nothing to report…data being plugged into the document.
Ed asked that each Committee member start their own individual listing of any issues they feel might require an opinion or that they feel important enough to be considered as a Charter amendment. Ed said these issues would be addressed in conjunction with the action list items.
Next Meeting: 6:30 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2013 in Waquoit Meeting Room at Town Hall.
Adjournment…
Motion: Mike Richardson motioned to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.
Wayne Taylor seconded the motion.
VOTE: 9-Yes.
Roll call Vote:
Mary Waygan, yes Richard Halpern, yes Scott McGee, yes Ed Larkin, yes
Wayne Taylor, yes Terrie Cook, yes
Mike Richardson, yes Chuck Gasior, yes
Don Myers, yes
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Giliberti
Recording Secretary
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