11/06/2023 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes

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4 *Monday, November 6, 2023 Charter Review Committee Minutes* The Committee further discussed notes on the preamble and what should and shouldn't be include with regard to the history of the Town. John Miller read Town Counsels opinion regarding drafting a preamble,care must be taken during drafting of the preamble while preambles may be regarded by some as an important introductory matter the words can have effects or connotations that were not for seen by the drafter. Cathy Lewis asked if we can look to other towns maybe outside of Massachusetts that have a preamble that references a federally recognized tribe. Rodney Collins advised doing a three paragraph preamble starting with we the people, the second paragraph referencing the past and the third paragraph wrapping it up with our vision for the future on how we are going to govern ourselves. Cathy Lewis and David Weeden will collaborate on a shared document taking everyone's comments and suggestions and incorporating them into a draft preamble. The committee also discussed the distribution of Town Counsel's emails. The committee would like to collaborate on any subjects that are going to Town Counsel and be included on the entire context of Counsel's opinion. It was Mary Waygan's understanding that it would be an outside attorney/counsel looking at the changes and preamble. Article 1 The spreadsheet tracking Committee and public comments was redistributed to the group. David Weeden noted changing the definition of Selectmen to Select Board has been changed throughout the document. Also that Richard Klein's comments about the relationship between the Town and Tribe justification recommendation of preamble. Mary Waygan suggested using the tribe's official title as a sovereign government. On Section 1.6, add language pertaining to the intergovernmental relationship between the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Town, Rodney Collins pointed out that for the purpose of this section Town Counsel has worked historically with the tribe's legal counsel. The committee should refer to P. Costello for language. Mary Waygan said the Committee should flag this section for legal counsel. Section 1.7 Cathy Lewis said we should not use the word charter to define the word charter. The Committee agreed on using "instrument in the definition" David Weeden suggested going through the entire document and coming up with a rough draft of the changes the Committee voted on. : Makes more sense to go through document. Rodney Collins added that once a draft of potential changes is made then the Committee can vote on the modifications.