8/26/2013 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes

Home Browse Search

Section 3 Review(continued) Sec 3-1(1)(3)–Nomination of Candidates. Statement reads: "The number of signatures of voters required to place the name of a candidate on the official ballot for use at a recall election shall not be less than twenty-five'. Suggest changing the wording to be more general and include statement that under Mass General Law. Action; Attorney to clarify: 1 Can anyone run for the"open office"(for instance,can person being recalled run);and 2)Question 25,signatures of voters. Section 3-2–Board of Selectman. Seca-2(d –Appointments. Suggest Sewer Commission wording be"may be"appointed,rather than"shall be"appointed. Following discussion,.it was suggested wording should react: Should Town have Sewer Commission in place, it shall be appointed by Town Manager. Also under this Appointr eats paragraph, it was noted that a suggestion was made by Town Clerk at the Public Hearing that Board of Selectmen appoint Assistant Town Manager. Joyce Mason,Town Manager, said as Town Manager being the appointing authority for all other Town positions, including the Police Chief and the Fire Chief, she thinks it would be very difficult having Board of Sel etmen appoint the Assistant Town Manager position because not only would the loyalty of that Assistant position go directly to the Board of Selectmen but there is potential to undermine the Town Manager position. Joyce explained that when Assistant Town Manager was hired the Board of Selectmen was involved in that process,but should not have appointing authority for that position. Board of Selectmen appointed the Town Manager,and they should trust the Town Manager to do ghat i right on the Assistant position. Scott McGee stated that's how it's clone in Schools. The Superintendent of Schools is appointed by School Committee;and the Assistant is appointed by the Superintendent. when Superintendent position opens,Assistant is Acting Superintendent until Superintendent appointed. Likewise, if Town Manager leaves,Assistant Town Manager becomes Acting Town Manager until Board of Selectmen appoints a Town Manager. See 3- –Town Clerk. Question was raised that this should be appointed,rather than an elected position. This varies across the State—some Town Clerics are appointed; some elected. Look at the positron; it is not about the person. Consensus: 1t"s working, so leave for now. Sec 3- b –Powers and Duties. Last sentence of this section reads: "Thi moderator,or a designee of the moderator,shall be responsible to review the minutes of all multiple-member bodies appointed by the moderator." Consider moving this last sentence from Town Clerk section-to Sec 3-6(b)-Powers and Duties of the Moderator. If moved to Moderator section,this would be a change to the Charter. Action: Have Attorney clarify. See 3-7(a)–Planning Board Composition. Suggested Associate Member should be appointed, not elected. Mary vegan noted that as an elected position,everybody is elected. Most associates end up being appointed. Consensus: For now,leave Associate Member as elected position since Planning Board likes it the way it is.