Monday, August 31, 2009

Administration Building

One School Street

Sharon, MA 02067

Present: Peg Arguimbau, Allen Garf, Paul Izzo, Abigail Marsters, Andrew Nebenzahl, Suzi Peck, Paul Pietal and Colleen Tuck

Absent: Sam Liao

Mr. Nebenzhal called the meeting to order at 7:26 p.m.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

Approve Minutes

Mr. Nebenzahl asked for motions to approve the following Open Session minutes of July 20^th, 21^st, 28^th as submitted and corrected.

MOTION: (Izzo/Peck) Moved to approve the Open Session minutes from the meetings of July 20, 2009 in substance. Vote was eight in the affirmative.

MOTION: (Peck/Tuck) Moved to approve the Open Session minutes from the meetings of July 21, 2009 in substance. Vote was eight in the affirmative.

MOTION: (Peck/Marsters) Moved to approve the Open Session minutes from the meetings of July 28, 2009 in substance. Vote was six in the affirmative. P. Izzo and C.Tuck abstained.

Mr. Nebenzahl, on behalf of the Commission members, thanked Peg Arguimbau for her assistance in recording the meeting minutes during the absence of the Recording Secretary.

Acknowledge Correspondence

There was no correspondence to come before the board at this time

Mr. Nebenzahl informed the Committee that the deadline was met for submitting the draft Charter proposal and would be published in the Sharon Advocate on September 4^th. He thanked the members for the collaboration in formulating the final draft, particularly Paul Izzo and Paul Pietal, who made edits and sent the final submission to the Advocate.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Discuss Open Issues in Draft Report

P. Arguimbau opened the discussion by stating that language in Section 5-4 (Long Range Planning and Policy Committee and Section 5-6 (Department of Planning and Community Development) needed further discussion and clarification. There was a lengthy discussion on how the current language would impact functions of the Conservation Commission and Historical Commission. A. Marsters suggested inserting language such as, “and work collaboratively……” M. Curran stated that the purpose of the language was to provide central authority and to insure that there is a single plan for long-range planning. S. Peck would like to insure that the town’s planning functions do not interfere with planning functions that have been given to boards. C. Tuck stated that the town would benefit from coordination i.e. consolidation of green space. P. Izzo stated that the Charter should be a flexible document and that no elected official should determine future decisions. P. Pietal stated that coordination would not take power from anyone. After a lengthy discussion on the language of Sections 5-5 and 5-6, Mr. Nebenzahl stated that further discussion would be a future agenda item for a subsequent meeting following the public forum/hearing.

Another future agenda item: Discussion of intent for the long-range planning committee.

P. Arguimbau requested language clarification relative to Article 5 (a) By-Laws. What are the role and responsibility of the steering committee? Following the discussion, A. Nebenzahl suggested that clarification language to the narrative P. Izzo suggested that the document be searched for language “town meeting” to verify that it means “town meeting” and not “steering committee”. Also verify whether language should be change to “town meeting legislative process”. S. Peck volunteered to search the document.

There was a discussion regarding “Effect of Actions taken by Steering Committee, particularly the language, “…..scheduled town meeting or at a special town meeting to be held on a date fixed by it and not more than sixty days after the date of the town clerk’s certificate that a sufficient petition has been filed.” It was suggested to take out “sixty days” and replace with “….that will take place prior to the next scheduled town meeting.”

There was a lengthy discussion on the protocol and the role and responsibility of the steering committee relative to forwarding articles to town meeting – whether an article could be amended at town meeting. M. Curran stated that he does not see a problem with allowing changes to be made at town meeting. Mr. Nebenzahl stated that the Commission would not vote on language changes until after the open forum meeting.

Discuss Format for Public Hearing

There was a discussion on the protocol to be followed by Commission members at the open forum meeting.

• whether to discuss article by article

• whether Commission members should speak during the forum or hold comments until end

• whether there should be a sign-in sheet and take the questions in order

• whether there should be a general Q&A or a Q&A after each article

• whether to create a list of issues that the Commission members would seek public input on.

The public forum is scheduled on September 21^st to start at 7:00 p.m. Copies of the draft charter would be send to town officials prior to the open forum meeting. Chair, A. Nebenzahl will moderate the meeting. The next scheduled meeting is September 14^th. A. Nebenzahl asked members to email their schedules to him for scheduling purposes of future meetings.

OTHER BUSINESS

Discuss Post Hearing Schedule

There was a brief discussion on the meeting schedule following the public forum (possibly rotating Mondays and Tuesdays for meeting dates).

The next meeting of the Charter Commission is scheduled for at 7:00 p.m.

There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mr. Nebenzahl asked for a motion to adjourn.

MOTION: (Tuck/Garf Moved to adjourn. Vote was eight in the affirmative.

Open Session was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Submitted on behalf of the Charter Committee by: Helen Campanario, Recording Secretary to the Charter Commission