Salisbury Charter Review Committee

Minutes of Regular Meeting & Public Hearing

Monday, August 10, 2009

 

 

Members Present:  Bob Carroll (BC); Mike Gilbert (MG); Robert Straubel (RS); Jim Dondero (JD); Mary Cuddire (MC); Ed Hunt (EH)

 

Member(s) Absent:   Harold Congdon

 

Visitors:  Jerry Klima, Selectman; Ron Ray, Moderator; Larry Cuddire; Henry Richenburg, Selectman; Fred Knowles, Selectman

 

Chairperson Opens Regular Meeting at 7:05 p.m.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. BC introduces the members of the Charter Review Committee and explains its purpose and procedures to the visiting audience.
    2. BC opens the floor for discussion of proposed changes to § 7-9 (g) of Salisbury Town Charter.  MG moves to recommend changing previously amended § 7-9 (g) to read as follows: “Composition of Multiple Member Bodies – All multiple member bodies, when established, shall be composed of voters in the Town of Salisbury and have an odd number of members. Whenever the terms of office of a multiple member body  extend for more than one year, such terms of office shall be so arranged that as nearly an equal number of terms as is possible will expire each year. Town employees shall not serve on multi-member bodies that provide policies or guidance to the employee's Town agency.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, town employees and non-voters may serve on the Board of Assessors, Ad Hoc committees, and as ex officio (non-voting) members of multimember bodies.” – JD seconds.
    3. Discussion of motion:

                                          i.    MC believes that having the town assessors serve on the Board of Assessors is a conflict and should not be allowed as a special exception in the article under consideration.

                                        ii.    EH suggests that the assessors could be considered ex officio members of the Board of Assessors allowing them to give advice but not vote.

                                       iii.    MG discusses the reasons why he believes the proposed wording is the correct method of handling employees on town boards and reviews the contents of the town manager’s August 3, 2009 memo on the subject.

    1. Vote to approve motion: 4 (MG, BC, RS, JD) – 2 (MC, EH) – motion passes.

 

  1. Approval of August 4, 2009 Meeting Minutes
    1. MG moves to amend the minutes by changing the citation “§7 (a) (g)” in paragraph 3.b to “§ 7-9 (g)” – RS seconds – vote in favor 6-0 (unanimous)
    2. MG moves to approve the amended minutes – RS seconds – vote in favor 6-0 (unanimous).

 

  1. Public Presentation of Charter Committee Recommended Changes
    1. BC presents a listing of the recommended changes that the Committee has produced so far.
    2. BC asks for comments on the changes by Committee members.  There are none.
    3. BC asks for comments from the visiting public.

 

 

  1. Public Comments
    1. Fred Knowles suggests that the proposed change in § 7-9 (g) requiring all members of multi-member bodies to be voters of the Town of Salisbury would eliminate non-voters who have business in the town and therefore have a vested interest in town government.  Mr. Knowles questions whether or not this is advisable.  BC responds that this change was the consensus of the Committee based on the Committee’s own beliefs and comments from other members of the community.
    2. Jerry Klima believes that the use of the term ex officio is incorrect in § 7-9 (g) because its true meaning is someone who is member of a committee by virtue of another office they hold and not, as it appears to be intended, meaning someone who is a non-voting board member.  BC suggests that the Committee will take this question up at its next meeting.
    3. Jerry Klima comments that the recommended  change in § 2-8 requiring annual written notice to all members of multi-member bodies of the requirements of § 2-8 is overly burdensome in time and expense.  MG explains the Committee’s position that this requirement is needed to improve the attendance of multi-member body members at town meetings, and e-mail will satisfy the written requirement with minimal expense.
    4. Larry Cuddire says that he believes that having the town assessors serve on the Board of Assessors is not proper and should not be allowed as a special exception in §7-9 (g).  JD suggests that, because this is a controversial issue for many people, it should be brought up on the floor of the town meeting for further discussion and possible amendment to the Committee’s recommendation.
    5. BC discusses how the town meeting vote will be held, and that it will be possible to amend the Committee’s recommendations, but the warrant article will encompass all of the changes at once.  BC, seeing no further comments from the visiting public, closes the public hearing.

 

  1. Adjournment
    1. BC suggests that the next meeting should be held on September 1, 2009.  the Committee agrees.
    2. The Committee votes by acclimation to adjourn at approximately 8:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

Minutes Approved By:_____________________________   Date:___________