9/9/1991 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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x x y BOARD OYSELECTMEN Page 2 MINUTES ONDA , SEPTEMBER 9, 1991 Appointment to -the C e Cod Commission: One possible point states lir. Greelish, is there any precedent or requirement for stepping down, from a. vote? Oh sure: you can' t vote on something for which you are a. candidate of states Counsel. No, no I am talking the opposite vain, would it be possible for Nancy to step down from a. vote thereby leaving only two members and not having a quorum? I will, just leave the meeting states Selectman Caffyn. (Applaud) And you would just have two members, The motion has been made and seconded states Selectman Lawrence. It started with a quorum and it would be very dangerous to leave at thisp oint advises Counsel. The remaining members could act if you voluntarily left. I'm not saying that to incriminate you, I am just pointing out what the law would say; If you had refused yourself before the discussion started, before the motion was put on the floor, it would be a different story. We had also, the Board decided that if we did not have something before us on Friday, we would not vote on it the night it was brought before us states Selectman Caffyn. This was not in our packet Friday. We had voted between all of us that we would not vote on any issue unless it was in our packet and on the agenda. Now we are breaking that rule. Our policy specifically states, . here it is in writing states Selectman Lawrence. Mr. Chairman, I suggest we move on. The Board will not act on any matter that is not included in their agenda unless the majority of the Board of Selectmen votes to discuss this matter at their meeting. Discuss states Selectman Cafflyn. We are not voting, that was the issue, We can discuss it, it is appropriate to discuss it, but if it is brought before us that might, or it is not an agenda item, we will not vote on it. I would ask for an interpretation of that from Town Counsel states Selectman Hanson, If his Board votes to suspend i-t' s own olioy or it' s own rules, it may do so, I am not suggesting the. wisdom of doing so, but the Board has the inherent power to do this. And if the motion was made to consider something that is contrary -to the policy and I don' t know, I haven' t seen the policy states Counsel. The purpose of this policy is to enable the Board of Selectmen to adequately prepare and review the pertinent merits of any given issue states Selectman a.ffyn. And to fully understand the * lecations or mp ramifications o 5 — action. Consequently if there is any item that must appear before the: Board of Selectmen, I would ask that this infor- mation be in our office - before Thursday morning for inclusion into the following Monday' s s a.genda,. Nor. Town Counsel and lir. Chairman I .vwrould also like to note that without that vote, this action could of been brought up under old Business states Selectman Lawrence. We have sat through all of those hearings. I'm not sure if it even required a. vote in order to get it on the agenda.