Salisbury Charter
Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Members Present: Robert Carroll, Chairman (RC); Mike Gilbert, Vice Chairman (MG);
Robert Straubel, Clerk (RS); Harold Congden (HC); Mary Cuddire (MC); Ed Hunt
(EH);
Member(s) Absent: Jim Dondero
Visitors: None
EH moves to open the meeting at 7:00 p.m. – MC seconds – vote in favor
of motion 6-0 unanimous.
1.
Old
Business:
a.
BC distributes copies of a revised
contact list that includes, in addition to contact information for the
members, the contact information for Ms. Marilyn Contreas, a State employee who
will assist the committee as needed. At
BC’s request, Ms. Contreas will be attending the committee’s meeting on June
23, 2009
2.
Project
Schedule Outline
a.
BC distributes a Proposed
Project Schedule of meetings and events that he has prepared. Discussion follows:
1)
BC notes that this is an
ambitious schedule that includes meetings every week for the months of June and
July. In order to make an organized
progression through the charter BC suggests a timetable with discussion
of one section of the charter per meeting followed by interviews, proposed
amendments, and voting to take place a subsequent meetings. A Proposed Table of Events for each charter
article is included with the Schedule.
2)
Members who are absent for a vote on a specific article can move to
re-open voting if they wish.
3)
The Schedule calls for a Public Hearing on the recommended amendments to
be held on August 11, 2009. All
committee meetings will be open to the public but will not be posted as Public
Hearings. Following the Public Hearing
the committee will submit a warrant article for the 2009 Fall Town Meeting
containing the recommended changes.
4)
MC notes that Article 2, §2-4
of the Town Charter contains a provision that the Fall Town Meeting “ . . shall
not include . . . the determination of other matters to be decided by ballots
of voters . . .” BC advises the
committee that he has reviewed this provision with Marilyn Contreas and she
believes it is acceptable to vote on Charter amendments at the Fall Town
Meeting.
5)
To encourage public attendance and input at committee meetings, BC
will arrange for an article in the Newburyport News and meeting notices will be
posted on the town’s website.
b.
EH moves to accept
the Proposed Schedule – MG seconds– vote in favor 6 – 0
unanimous.
3.
Potential
Invitees
a.
BC opens the floor to a
discussion of which town officials and staff the committee should invite to
speak at its meetings:
1)
EH believes all town
department heads should be interviewed
2)
MG believes that the town
clerk and the town manager are most important.
3)
HC suggests that the
selectmen should be interviewed individually.
BC favors a workshop with selectmen and will work on arranging
one.
4.
Discussion –
Article I of the Charter
a.
BC notes that there are
inconsistencies in capitalization and the use of commas throughout the
Charter. He suggests that these be
addressed all at one time rather than being considered piecemeal. All of the members agree.
b.
After discussion BC asks if anyone wishes to propose changes or
amendments to Section I. None are
offered.
c.
HC moves that the
Committee recommend no changes to Article I – MG seconds – vote
in favor of motion 6-0 unanimous.
5.
Approval of
the May 14, 2009 meeting minutes
a.
After receiving information from the committee members regarding the
identity of nominators and seconds, RS adds the missing information to
the minutes.
b.
MC moves to
accept the May 14, 2009 meeting minutes – EH seconds – vote in favor 6-0
unanimous.
6.
Adjournment
EH moves to adjourn the meeting – vote in favor 6 – 0
unanimous. Meeting is adjourned at 7:44
PM.
+Minutes Approved By:_____________________________ Date:___________