OPEN SESSION
CHARTER COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Building
One School Street
Sharon, MA 02067
Present: Peg Arguimbau, George Bailey, Allen Garf, Paul Izzo, Abigail Marsters, Andrew Nebenzahl, Paul Pietal, Colleen Tuck
Absent: Sam Liao
Mr. Nebenzahl called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
Introduce Administrative Secretary
Mr. Nebenzahl introduced Helen Campanario as the Administrative Secretary to the Charter Commission.
Approve Minutes
MOTION: (Garf/Bailey) Moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of October 8, 2008 as revised and submitted to the Committee. Vote was seven in the affirmative. Mr. Pietel abstained.
Acknowledge Correspondence
Mr. Izzo highlighted/summarized a letter received from Laura Nelson, which included definitions of “group think” and “consensus”. Definitions were taken from Wickipedia. Mr. Izzo thanked Ms. Nelson for her input and stated that the Commission would take her suggestions under advisement.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Mr. Nebenzahl reported that letters with specific talking points were sent in advance to Michael Curran and Lauren Goldberg, candidates for the consultant position, with the understanding that the points outlined therein would be addressed during their individual presentations to the Charter Commission.
Interview Attorney Michael P. Curran – Applicant for Consultant (7:15-8:15 p.m.)
Mr. Curran addressed each of the talking points in his presentation. He gave a brief over-view of his professional experience as well as his educational background. He distributed certain documents, including a list of towns and cities with whom he had worked and a form timeline with relevant issues. Following Mr. Curran’s presentation, each member asked Mr. Curran specific questions. The following areas were covered during the Q&A portion of the interview:
• RFP not required – Charter Commissions are exempt from 43B constraints.
• Process of getting Charter enacted.
• Assistance in interpreting surveys generated by the Commission.
• Specific examples of why Mr. Curran would be the better candidate.
• Examples of lessons learned from communities that did not pass a Charter.
• How would Mr. Curran assist in creating an atmosphere of collegiality and unification within the Charter Commission as well as the community.
• Process in determining what areas need to be specifically addressed in the Charter.
• How is the information would be disseminated – newspaper, Internet, public forums, etc.
• Expand on Mr. Curran’s experience with different forms of town government – town council, town manager, mayor, etc.
Following the completion of the Q&A portion of the interview, Mr. Curran left the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
Mr. Nebenzahl called for a two-minute recess. Open Session was reconvened at 8:25 p.m.
Interview Attorney Lauren Goldberg – Applicant for Consultant (8:15-9:15 p.m.)
Ms. Goldberg addressed each of the talking points in her presentation. She gave a brief over-view of her professional experience as well as the experience of her law firm in the specific area of town charters. Following Ms. Goldberg’s presentation, each member asked Ms. Goldberg specific questions. The following areas were covered during the Q&A portion of the interview:
• Specific timeline and schedule.
• Process of working with all town boards in a collegial atmosphere.
• Fee structure and how it would be implemented ($170/hr.).
• How a compromise would be reached, which insures that all members’ thoughts/concerns are addressed.
• Process of dealing with a group of people with varying opinions and how “balance” is achieved.
• Timeline for examining current town boards and rendering recommendations.
• Coordination of attendance of board meetings as well as town meeting in surrounding communities to observe how their form of town government works.
• Experience with towns that have changed/implemented a different form of town government.
Following the completion of the Q&A portion of the interview, Ms. Goldberg left the meeting at 9:22 p.m. Ms. Goldberg will forward to Mr. Nebenzahl a compilation of the towns in which she or her firm, Kopelman and Paige, P.C., have had Charter experience.
Mr. Nebenzahl called for a short recess. Open Session was reconvened at 9:25 p.m.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was a brief discussion on the timeline for deliberations and selection of a consultant.
Mr. Nebenzahl said that, if time permits, he and Mr. Pietel would attend this evening’s Finance Commission to address the concerns of some Finance Committee members on whether an RFP is required for a Charter Commission consultant.
There was a brief discussion on the funding for retaining a consultant.
There was a discussion on the protocol/process that would be followed in attaining references on the two candidates and whether the references would be attained before or after a selection has been made. Questions that would be posed during the reference check were also discussed. Mr. Nebenzahl stated that reference checks would not be done before the next meeting (10/27). A final decision on a candidate would be reached within the next three weeks.
There being no further business to come before the Committee at this time, Mr. Nebenzahl asked for a motion to adjourn.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adjourn. Vote was eight in the affirmative.
Open Session was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Submitted on behalf of the Charter Committee by: Helen Campanario, Recording Secretary to the Charter Committee