MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
May 10, 2006
Present at the meeting that was held at the Town Building were Selectmen Stephen Dungan, Carole Makary, and Janet Wheeler and newly elected Selectmen Jason Robart and Thomas Ruggiero.
Also present was Administrative Assistant Susan McLaughlin. Town Administrator William Wrigley did not attend.
Clerk Janet Wheeler, as acting chair, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
The agenda for the meeting was the Board’s annual reorganization and election of officers following Annual Town Meeting and Election.
Election of Officers
Election of Chairman: Following her introductory remarks welcoming Mr. Robart and Mr. Ruggiero to the Board, Ms. Wheeler said that the election of officers would begin and that she would turn to Ms. Makary to accept a motion for the position of chairperson.
Ms. Makary said she and Ms. Wheeler were the senior members of the Board, and that recent tradition was that the chairperson position passes from one to another based on seniority on the Board; it has been so in her two years on the Board. She considered taking the chairperson’s role herself as a natural progression, she said, but decided instead to nominate Ms. Wheeler. Ms. Wheeler then asked for a second to the motion. Mr. Dungan seconded.
Ms. Wheeler asked for any discussion, at which time Mr. Robart said he had intended to make a motion that Mr. Dungan serve as chairman. He cited Mr. Dungan’s experience and demeanor as valuable to the position. Mr. Dungan replied that, while he appreciated Mr. Robart’s motion, he declined the nomination for chair. Mr. Dungan then noted the areas he plans to work in as a Board member.
Mr. Ruggiero said it was his experience that different committees used different criteria to select chairmen and that chairs should be selected because they were the best people to run meetings, not because they were the most tenured people. He cited his own, Mr. Dungan’s, and Mr. Robart’s experience as chairmen and said he would like the minutes to note that chairmanship would not automatically rotate, based on time of the Board.
Ms. Wheeler said that she and Mr. Dungan had discussed how, as clerk, she had served as chairman, and that it was an area they felt quite strongly would be a good place for Ms. Wheeler.
Ms. Makary said, in her two years on the Board, she has seen the progression from clerk to chairman and how Ms. Wheeler had a chance to chair meetings and work hand-in-hand with the chair in terms of agendas and correspondence. She also said it was important for the vote to be unanimous.
All then voted to appoint Ms. Wheeler as chair.
Election of Clerk: Ms. Wheeler said she would accept a motion from Ms. Makary for clerk.
Mr. Ruggiero asked for clarification on the procedure, saying he thought the chair asked for a motion from anyone at the table, not a particular person. Ms. Wheeler responded that, as there had been three of them on the Board, it made some sense to call upon one of them and that the previous chair had called upon individuals on occasion. Mr. Robart said he agreed with Mr. Ruggiero, from a procedural point, and going forward would like to see a request for motions open to all Board members.
Ms. Wheeler changed her request to now entertain a motion from the members of the Board. Ms. Makary moved to appoint Mr. Dungan as clerk, Mr. Robart seconded, and all voted in favor.
Other Business
The Board discussed and agreed to the following working procedures:
· Members will contact the chairman to put items on the agenda.
· Pre-meeting packets will be distributed electronically via email, as opposed to printed packets being delivered.
· A period for public comment, beginning at 7:00 p.m. for up to 15 minutes, will be added to the meeting agendas. The Board voted this decision on a motion from Mr. Ruggiero, seconded by Mr. Robart, with all voting in favor.
· Ms. Wheeler noted for members that email is a public record
At 7:35 p.m., Mr. Dungan moved to adjourn, Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan McLaughlin
Administrative Assistant, Board of Selectmen
Approved as amended, May 23, 2006
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