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8 <br /> Board of Selectmen <br /> Minutes <br /> November 16, 2020 <br /> Discussion of Town Meeting Options: <br /> For the purpose of transparency the Select Board reviewed the forms of local government as it relates to <br /> town meeting. The forms of municipal government include Open Town Meeting and Representative Town Meeting. <br /> In the Town of Mashpee, the Open Town Meeting is followed. In this feature all voters are eligible to <br /> debate and vote on budgets, bylaws and on all matters brought before town meetings, and approved indebtedness <br /> (bonding). Town Meeting acts as the legislative body of the Town. The Open Town Meeting allows for direct and <br /> broad citizen participation in government. <br /> The Representative Town Meeting features a limited number of voters who are elected, usually by district to <br /> represent all voters in a Representative Town Meeting. The Representative Town Meeting is the legislative body of <br /> a town and it debates and approves budgets, bylaws and all matters brought before town meeting as well as <br /> indebtedness (bonding). <br /> An Open Town Meeting form of government is only allowed to be conducted with persons physically in attendance <br /> while a Representative Town Meeting requires attendance of the elected voters. Non-elected voters would require <br /> approval by majority of the representatives to speak, and generally do not comment at town meeting. <br /> If the form of local government was to change,the process would involve amending the language of the Charter to be <br /> approved by a vote of town meeting with final authorization from the Attorney General. <br /> COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE <br /> Electronic Voting Machines: <br /> The Select Board requested the Town Manager review the use of electronic voting machines at town meeting, and the <br /> possibility of piloting this project by sharing equipment with neighboring towns. This process would provide <br /> beneficial efficiencies to the overall process. <br /> Discussion and Approval of Letter from the Environmental Oversight Committee re: Chapter 107: Nitrogen Control <br /> Bylaw: <br /> Correspondence was received from Katelyn Cadoret, Assistant Conservation Agent on behalf of the Environmental <br /> Oversight Committee (EOC) regarding the Town's Nitrogen Control Bylaw. The EOC voted unanimously to send a <br /> letter (yearly)to the Cape Cod Landscape Association to reinforce the performance standards of the bylaw. <br /> Fertilizer containing nitrogen cannot be applied between October 30th and April 14th. Fertilizer containing <br /> phosphorus without nitrogen cannot be applied between December lst and March 1st. The letter includes <br /> fertilizer application restrictions and enforcement thereof. <br /> Motion made by Selectman Gottlieb to endorse the letter from the EOC to the Cape Cod Landscape <br /> Association on the Nitrogen Control Bylaw as presented. <br /> Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. <br /> VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0. <br /> Roll Call Vote: <br /> Selectman Cotton,yes Selectman O'Hara,yes Selectman Sherman,yes <br /> Selectman Gottlieb,yes Selectman Weeden,yes Opposed, none <br />