02/05/2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes

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4 Assistant Town Manager in the Charter, with similar definitions and adding a provision automatically delegating the Town Manager's authority to that person. Don Myers suggested adding language authorizing the town manager to delegate authority to the assistant town manager under section 4 and under sect 4-5, d add language "or a qualified administrative officer" after Assistant Town Manager. The next comment for section 4 was Select Board should have a choice to make appointment without using the screening committee. Also include a preference that the candidate be a resident of the town. Kathy Lewis said she thinks the screening committee should be kept in the Charter. The Committee agreed not to do away with the screening committee but that they should take a look at the composition of the committee while remembering to address the bylaw that the screening committee is established under. The Committee will further review the bylaw that is referred to in section 4. Mary Waygan referred to section 4-2, "town officers" should be consistent with the definition. She also suggested requesting a list of who the Town Manager appoints to make sure section 4 captures that. Under section 4-2, g there was a comment about control of school property and clarifying where the line is drawn regarding jurisdiction.The Committee will need to refer to the School and Town MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). Darlene Furbush said she thinks there should be more clarification regarding control of the School property. John Miller asked if it was something the school committee could take a look at. Mary Waygan referred to section j, "To negotiate all contracts involving any subject within the jurisdiction of the office of Town Manager, including contracts with town employees, except employees under the School Committee involving wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment; all such proposed contracts shall be subject to approval or ratification by the Select Board" saying that contracts for goods and services should be limited to three years. The Committee agreed that this does not include employee contracts but procurement contracts. Section m Section does not clearly define which offices, departments, boards, commissions and other town agencies would be subject to investigation. The committee discussed the process for initiating an investigation. Mary Waygan disagrees with the Town Manager having investigative authority over the appointed boards and committees.