11/20/2023 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 Mashpee Select Board Minutes November 20, 2023 APPOINTMENTS&HEARINGS State Ethics ComlaintITaanst the Town to be exlained by the To Manager; For transparency Town Manager Rodney C. Collins advised the Select Board of a complaint addressed to the Ethics Commission dated October 24, 2023 arising from the Town Manager's message to the Mashpee Inclusion and Diversity Committee(MIDC) regarding a special meeting that was being called on the same day of the October Town Meeting on October 16, 2023. After receiving notice of a proposed special MIDC meeting via ZOOM on the Town Meeting articles proposed by Tribal members, a department head was noted to have raised concern regarding this meeting and compliance of the law. At the request of the Town Manager,the meeting was cancelled. The standard protocol is to seek clarity on the law with General Counsel or Labor Counsel. Town Manager Rodney C. Collins advocated the meeting not take place in a public facility in order to comply with the mandates of general law specifically Chapter 268A. Town Manager Rodney C. Collins was noted to respond to the Chair of the MIDC in a letter dated October 17,2023 expressing concern regarding the meeting and if it was a properly posted meeting with public access, and in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 268A whereby public employees are restricted in engaging in political activities. This includes, but it is not limited to the advocacy of a particular Warrant Article at Town Meeting. It was therefore recommended to cancel the meeting based upon the agenda violating Chapter 268A, as opined by Town Counsel. The complainant, a member of the MIDC filed a complaint against the Town Manager and Town Counsel from the decision"to forbid a special committee meeting for some undefined conflict of interest allegations(s)"and the Town Manager's alliance on Town Counsel's "interpretation"of M.G.L. Chapter 268A. Town Manager Rodney C. Collins indicated he stands behind his opinion. Public Comment: None at this time. LIAISON REPORTS Assemblr_of Delegates:, At their last meeting,the Assembly passed a resolution urging officials to prioritize electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Cape p �w.o ,ommerce: In working toward launching a Cape Cod tourism district to fund Ca e Cod wChamber of C marketing and housing initiatives,the Cape Cod Chamber is requesting a 1.5% surcharge in nightly hotel and motel rates. This would not include short-term rentals.