10/23/2023 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes

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*APPROVED* (10-30-2023) 3 *Monday, October 23, 2023 Charter Review Committee Minutes* Collette Williams: Yes, you have been sitting in the job the others haven't even been in a Town Clerk's office. A person working in the office is better. Rodney Collins: Asked if the appointing authority was the Select Board, but after Charter it is the Town Manager? Collette Williams: Yes Don Myers: Follow up question, appointed for life? Is that typical? Collette Williams: Yes, unless removed for just cause. Greg McKelvey: If a person hadn't been a Town Clerk before, and if this person was committed to the job can that person be a Town Clerk? Collette Williams: Yes John Miller and Rodney Collins: Only way to remove an elected official is recall election? Collette Williams: Yes Public Comment allowed from Ed Larkin: The attorney who wrote the Mashpee Town Charter researched the position of Town Clerk for three years, it was determined that 90% are elected. For the very good reason the Town Clerk handles elections, permits that deal directly to the citizens, taking away the citizens' right to elect. We have one of the premier Clerks in the State. Serves a legislative function and an executive function. Should not be politicized. Don't want to see the Citizens of Mashpee short changed. Very much against it. Rodney Collins: 41% or so of Town Clerks are appointed now. John Miller: As with any other changes, Deb Kaye would be in until either she doesn't run or is defeated. Rodney Collins: Removing the current Town Clerk from the picture and a new clerk is elected and only comes in to work two days a week, what can you do? Ed Larkin: Wait until recall, but by the same token we are not going to always have a Town Manager like Rodney Collins. Who should be the appointing authority? Mashpee has the Town Manager as the appointing authority. Rodney Collins: In all seriousness, do you think that the process of just cause is much simpler and quicker than recall if there was something afoul? Ed Larkin: It depends on what is in your Charter — Cause vs just cause. Greg McKelvey: Ask Ed Larkin: Can it be worked into the Charter, a removal process of an elected official? Ed Larkin: Maybe, court process. Deb Kaye — Elected Town Clerk Deb Kaye — Position of Town Clerk — responsibilities are the same whether appointed or elected. An Elected official works for the voters of this Town — must be a resident of the Town You know your Town Clerk can be reached on nights, weekends, etc. I put my personal cell on cards, is an appointed Town Clerk, apt to do that? A Town Clerk always should be elected. When I ran for office, I ran against two other people. They knew as many people as I did. Candidates' night, etc. Difference between Select Board, Planning Board, Town Clerk works for everyone in this Town. We know who to call and who to ask and go forward from there. Not saying, an appointed Town Clerk can't do the same. But I have 14,000 bosses and Collette has 6. Who will do the best job for me? After ten years, I can get the Town to vote to accept this general law to