Sharon Charter Commission

Monday, August 4, 2008

Location:           School Department Building

Attendees:

· Margaret Arguimbau

· George Bailey

· Alan Garf

· Paul Izzo

· Sam Liao

· Abigail Marsters

· Andy Nebenzahl (Chair)

· Paul Pietal

· Colleen Tuck

NOTE: No meeting was held on Monday, July 28, 2008

New Business:

Mr. Nebenzahl called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

Mr. Nebenzahl circulated an agenda.

A motion was made, and seconded, to amend the draft minutes of the July 21, 2008 meeting.  The motion passed, 7-0.  (Ms. Arguimbau and Mr. Izzo abstaining.)

A motion was made, and seconded, to approve the amended draft minutes of the July 21, 2008 meeting.  The motion passed, 7-0.  (Ms. Arguimbau and Mr. Izzo abstaining.)

Mr. Izzo agreed to circulate amended minutes of the July 21, 2008 meeting.

Mr. Izzo read correspondence from Mr. Herb Gould, concerning a consequence matrix.

Mr. Nebenzahl informed the members that he had no update regarding the hiring of an administrative secretary.

Ms. Tuck circulated a draft document to be used in connection with interviews of various town officials and other governmental contributors.  She stated that she spoke to officials in other communities that had gone through a similar process.  Candor can be an issue.  Participants should be interviewed both privately and before the board.  Other members of the Commission weighed in with suggestions regarding the interview form.  Mr. Izzo suggested questions regarding the duties of the individual in question.  Mr. Nebenzahl suggested that two separate forms should be considered – one for town officials and one for board members.  Others raised the question whether the form was too long.  Mr. Pietal suggested that the key issues are governmental structure and effectiveness.  For the time being, the Commission will hold off deciding whether participants should come before the entire Commission or just a sub-committee of same.  Ms. Tuck agreed to circulate the draft questions and elicit comments.  The members agreed to send Mr. Izzo priorities for up to 20 names regarding which boards and commissions should be interviewed.  The members also agreed to send the written survey to all persons and entities on Mr. Bailey’s list that had been circulated previously.  Mr. Nebenzahl suggested that an introductory narrative be written for the beginning of the survey. 

Mr. Pietal distributed a document summarizing which by-laws are “charter-worthy,” that is, which by-laws inform the Commission’s work with regard to creating a charter.  The members discussed the purpose of town by-laws as opposed to a charter. 

Ms. Marsters distributed additional rules and by-laws she had recently collected.  This included: (a) zoning by-laws; (b) Board of Selectman rules; (c) sub-division rules; (d) Board of Health rules and regulations and (e) personnel by-laws.  Mr. Izzo took possession of these documents for the record.

Mr. Bailey distributed a voter participation chart.  He indicated that he had another chart in process listing voter participation in the Massachusetts, in general.  The chart was discussed.  Mr. Bailey stated that he would circulate another version soon.

Mr. Izzo suggested that it might be helpful to have a more detailed list of issues that have impacted the town in the last twenty years.

Mr. Pietal circulated a draft budget. 

Ms. Tuck asked that the members consider getting a consultant.  Mr. Nebenzahl stated that he would start to assemble a list of possible candidates.

Mr. Nebenzahl stated that he would get a list of comparable towns together.  He also stated that he would add time for citizens to comment at various Commission meetings.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 PM.  The next meeting will be at 7:00 PM on August 11, 2008, at the School Administration building on School Street.

Minutes submitted by:

Paul Izzo

Attest:

Paul Izzo

Paul Izzo, Clerk