OPEN SESSION
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
Administration Building
One School Street
Sharon, MA 02067
Present: Peg Arguimbau (arrived at 9:15 p.m.), Allen Garf, Paul Izzo, Abigail Marsters, Andrew Nebenzahl, Suzi Peck, Paul Pietal (arrived after the meeting was called to order)
Absent: Sam Liao, Colleen Tuck
Mr. Nebenzahl called the Open Session meeting to order at 8:03 p.m. and stated that this evening’s meeting focus on voting of the articles and discussion on how to file the Charter and Report. The deadline for filing the Charter and Report is November 9th. The Commission needs to formally vote adoption of the articles as drafted.
Correspondence
There was no correspondence to come before the Commission at this time.
Article 4-2-(b) – Powers and Duties
S. Peck asked for language clarification regarding independent technical advisors, which serve boards, committees and commissions.
MOTION: (Peck/Izzo) Moved to add the Board of Assessors to the list in Article 4-2-B. Vote was five in the affirmative. A. Garf abstained.
Article 5-1 (b) – Administrative Organization (Administrative Code)
P. Izzo asked that there be language consistency. There was a discussion on the authority of the Town Administrator and what language would be “charter worthy”.
MOTION: (Peck/Pietal) Move that with respect to those boards set forth in Section 4-2-B, the Town Administrator shall consult with said boards prior to promoting or disciplining employees of said boards.
There was a discussion on the motion prior to the vote. Vote: S. Peck in the affirmative. Four in the negative. Motion did not carry.
A. Nebenzahl asked members to take each article one at a time and move to adopt the language of the articles in substance subject to technical editing. Changes shall be included in the proposed Charter.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 1 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was five in the affirmative.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 2 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was five in the affirmative.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 3 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was five in the affirmative.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 4 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was four in the affirmative. S. Peck voted in the negative. S. Peck stated that she opposed the Article because, in her opinion, the article gives too much power to the Town Administrator.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 5 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was five in the affirmative. S. Peck voted in the negative.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 6 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was six in the affirmative.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 7 subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was six in the affirmative.
There was a discussion on language clarification for Article 8 – Transitional Provisions.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to adopt for inclusion in the Charter Article 8, as amended on November 5, 2009, subject to any non-substantive corrections necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Article. Vote was six in the affirmative.
A. Nebenzahl thanked all the members for their hard work and dedication in formulating this Charter.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to leave the votes taken to the extent that other members may want to endorse the Charter and signify their endorsement by signing the Charter and Report. There was a discussion on the motion.
A. Nebenzahl asked for a brief recess (9:10 p.m.). The meeting was reconvened at 9:15 p.m.
P. Arguimbau, who arrived at 9:15 p.m., stated that she would not support the Charter and said that were she present for all the votes, she would have voted “no” on each article.
P. Izzo read a prepared statement.
A. Nebenzahl thanked M. Curran for his guidance and hard work in formulating the Charter.
M. Curran left the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
There was a discussion on M. Curran’s request for additional compensation for his services as legal consultant to the Charter Commission.
MOTION: (Izzo/Garf) Moved to give additional compensation to M. Curran for a total of $21,500. Vote was seven in the affirmatiave.
MOTION: (Marsters/Garf) Moved to adjourn. Vote was seven in the affirmative
Meeting was adjourned at 9:42 p.m.
Submitted on behalf of the Charter Committee by: Helen Campanario, Recording Secretary to the Charter Commission