OPEN SESSION
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
Administration Building
One School Street
Sharon, MA 02067
Present: George Bailey, Paul Izzo, Sam Liao, Abigail Marsters, Andrew Nebenzahl, Colleen Tuck
Absent: Peg Arguimbau, Alan Garf and Paul Pietel
Also Present: Bill Friel, Town Administrator for Canton and Herbert Gould, member of the community
Mr. Nebenzahl called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
Acknowledge Correspondence
Mr. Izzo received a DVD of Burlington’s representative town meeting from Mr. Gallagher, who recently met with the Commission. Mr. Izzo will forward the DVD to Sharon Cable for viewing by community, who might be interested in seeing how a representative town meeting is conducted. Cable will be asked to place a banner at the bottom explaining why Burlington’s town meeting is being aired on Sharon’s station.
Meeting with Bill Friel, Town Administrator for Canton
Mr. Nebenzahl introduced Mr. Friel and thanked him for taking the time to meet with the Commission. Mr. Friel presented an overview of his experience both with Barnstable and Canton. In Barnstable, Mr. Friel served as a member of the Board of Selectmen in Barnstable. Barnstable changed from representative town government to council management form of government. Areas of discussion:
Barnstable
• The reasons why Barnstable adopted a council management form of town government and how the town has adjusted to the change. One of the major reasons for the change was the size of Barnstable.
• Though the adjustment was difficult for some citizens, there has never been any movement to return to the representative form of town government.
• Barnstable’s Town Meeting was eliminated in 1989.
Canton
• Canton has a “0” quorum for their Town Meeting.
• Canton uses the “lottery” system for the order of warrant articles at Town Meeting.
• Moderator can “bundle” articles.
• Budgets are voted last after all other warrant articles.
• Canton has one Annual Town Meeting, which usually runs for two evenings.
• Special Town Meetings can be convened if necessary.
• Improved Audio-visual equipment has enhanced Town Meeting immeasurably.
• All proposed Town Meeting presentations are sent to Canton’s Information Director prior to the meeting.
• If a printed Town Meeting warrant article has 30 or more word changes, the town by-law requires 300 copies of the revised article be printed and distributed at Town Meeting.
• Massachusetts seems to have the most diverse forms of local town government.
• Pros/cons of Executive Secretary, Town Administrator and Town Manager were discussed.
• Timelines for article submissions were discussed.
• Canton allows the Board of Selectmen to make a positive motion following the main recommendation of the Finance Committee.
• Canton went from a 3 to 5 member Board of Selectmen.
• Canton has formulated a “procedures manual”, which relates to Town Meeting.
• The role of the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen relative to hiring was discussed.
• Canton’s Administrative Code clearly outlines the role of the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen relative to collective bargaining and hiring practices.
• Canton’s Finance Director reports to the Town Administrator. Interaction with the Board of Selectmen is limited.
• The Finance Director works with all town sectors including the School Department.
• State statutes regarding collective bargaining were discussed.
• Canton’s vs. Sharon’s Capital Outlay procedure was discussed.
• The need for and job responsibilities of a Town Planner was discussed.
• The successful revitalization of Canton center was discussed.
• Canton has a 7 member Economic Development Committee who is appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
• Canton’s Town Moderator appoints members to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Nebenzahl, on behalf of the Charter Commission members, thanked Mr. Friel for an informative discourse. Mr. Friel left the meeting at 9:04 p.m.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was a brief discussion of “piggy back” by laws and the difficulty of changing a provision of an adopted Charter.
Mr. Nebenzhal will endeavor to schedule meetings with the Town Moderator and the Town Treasurer.
Mr. Izzo asked the process to be followed for scheduling public forum meetings to inform the public on the progress of the Charter Commission. There will be further discussion on this subject at a subsequent meeting.
There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mr. Nebenzahl asked for a motion to adjourn.
MOTION: (Izzo/Marsters) Moved to adjourn. Vote was six in the affirmative.
Open Session was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Submitted on behalf of the Charter Committee by: Helen Campanario, Recording Secretary to the Charter Commission