07/10/2023 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes

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5 *Monday,July 10, 2023 Charter Review Committee Minutes* Rodney Collins explained the makeup of the finance department and that the town accountant is the director of municipal finance. In Section 5.6 Mary Waygan said that legally the planning department, board of appeals should be separated from the building commissioner because the building commissioner is more of an enforcer. Building official should be deleted.Also the health department does not fall under this section so neither should building. David Weeden asked about adding the building or inspection department to the organizational chart. Rodney Collins said that the building department falls under the Community Development Director. Mary Waygan suggested adding Affordable Housing to 5.6 considering it is a key component in community development. Greg McKelvey said he would like to hear from thoughts from the Building Commissioner. It was also noted that the Community Development Director is in the organizational chart but is a vacant position. It was however established in the administrative code in 2008. The Town Manager explained that certain positions needed to be filled before the position was posted. The Town Manager will speak with Town Counsel about what needs to be changed in order for the Charter and Administrative Code to be in proper alignment. Greg McKelvey suggested getting Town Counsel's opinion. Mary Waygan also said the proposed changes should be looked at but by an outside attorney "a fresh pair of eyes" after the review of the Charter is complete. The Committee discussed what the process would be for making changes to the charter and administrative code and chart. The chart was approved at town meeting. Does the chart need to be revisited at town meeting. John Miller added that the Administrative Code refers to the Charter in the title so if you change the administrative code you change the charter too. Copies of the current organizational chart were distributed to the Committee which includes the Finance Director, community development director and building department. The Committee agreed that in order to review the charter properly the best approach is to be completely transparent about any conflicts and the committee's suggestions to address the conflicts.