04/08/2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes

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*CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES Monday, April 8, 2024* 7 Mary Waygan said I think we should specify the supporting documentation so we know the full the full budget message. Is part of that what you're talking about at town meeting?That happens at town meeting for that article. We don't know what to call that thing yet, but we could put that in there as well. The Committee discussed the appropriation source for the budget be in the Article and the explanation. Don Myers added clearly explaining what exactly revenue available for appropriation means. Darlene Furbush said that it may increase the price. Of the printing. John Miller also said I'm thinking in part of town meeting efficiency too, so. If you cannot say as printed in the warrant. Then you have to read the whole motion to include those terms. Cathy Lewis explained that it doesn't have to be redundant. Consolidated revolving funds, for example. This particular article has 5 revolving funds, the article and the motion are what are normally said and done, but then the explanation says the purpose of these revolving funds is to segregate revenues generated by each of these operations and to restrict the use of those revenues to the purpose for which they are collected, as required by state statute. The following is an account of these funds for the prior fiscal year. And then it gives in the explanation, starting balance, what's been appropriated and spent, appropriated and not spent, and what's the balance. The wording will need to be narrowed down forthe explanation of budget appropriation included in the warrant and this would be an addition to 6.4. The Committee also discussed the explanations being included in the Town Manager's budget message. Mary Waygan suggested for Section 6.3 "The notice shall further indicate the times and places at which complete copies of the proposed operating budget and full budget message, as updated for the town are available for examination by the public and at a minimum, on the town's website. Mary Waygan will work on a redline draft on 6.3, Cathy Lewis will work on 2.6. Section 6.4 Budget Message Don Myers asked where the budget message is published, he doesn't recall seeing it. Mary Waygan said that's why we want to change the requirements of the public notice, so that that they're sent to part of the website where these materials are there. It was suggested that there should be a provision in the Charter that that requires the Select Board to do an annual goal setting methodology in section 3.2. The Committee will refer to legal counsel regarding possibility of the budget not being approved at town meeting and what that cause of action would be if there were amendments.