Meeting, May 17, 2001

 

Present:  Linda Wollschlager, Raphael Herz, Paul Connolly,Philip Verzani

Absent:  Jeffrey Phillips

 

The meeting was called to order by the chair at 7:15 PM in the School Department Training Room, Third Floor, Town Hall.

 

Minutes of the May 3 meeting were approved as written.

 

The committee discussed three specific items that first appeared on the agenda for the April 18 meeting as well as items on the agenda for this meeting. (In these minutes, the items are referenced by the short designation that appears in the agenda.) The committee decided to adjust the order of consideration of the items.

 

By-Laws, Art. 10, s. 4. Ms. Wollschlager reported that indeed there is a parking meter fund, but that she is awaiting further information on the purposes for which funds are expended.

 

Charter, Art. 5, s. 5-2(b). Ms. Wollschlager reported that the contact for the School Committee requested that this section be rewritten to be almost a duplicate of MGL, c. 71, s. 38N. Mr. Connolly offered to draft an alternative wording for this section in an attempt to strike a compromise between the current section and the excerpt from the MGL. The committee agreed. Mr. Connolly will provide Ms. Wollschlager with a draft for further coordination with the School Committee.

 

Ms. Wollschlager left at this time in the meeting.

 

Mr. Herz reported that he had received a suggestion from a resident about waiving interest charges on late-paid water and sewer bills when the payment is made through a government-sponsored assistance program. The committee will determine how best to consider this issue.

 

By-Laws, Art. 10, s. 2; By-Laws, Art. 20, s. 1. Ms. Wollschlager is formatting the lists of appointees obtained from the Acting Town Administrator.

 

Charter, Art. 2, s. 2-11; Charter, Art. 2, s. 2-12; By-Laws, Art. 1, s.1; By-Laws, Art. 1, s.2. The committee discussed items concerned with the meeting dates for Town Meeting, the publication of the warrant, and time requirements for calling Town Meetings. The committee unanimously (3-0) agreed to take no action on changing these sections.

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-3(b). The committee deferred action until the next meeting.

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-2(c). The committee discussed the impact of the phrase "subject to the provisions of Article 6." The committee unanimously (3-0) agreed to a draft change to this section.

 

Charter, Art. 5, s. 5-5. The committee discussed a sentence change drafted by Mr. Herz. However, the committee decided that neither the existing sentence nor the draft added much to the section. The committee unanimously (3-0) agreed to take no action on changing the section.

 

The committee discussed a priority ranking for some of the items awaiting consideration. Mr. Herz will assign items for the next meeting based on priority.

 

The committee also discussed the likelihood of requesting Town Meeting to extend the term of the committee. The committee agreed that it would be impossible to complete review of the many suggestions on its agenda before warrant articles must be filed in the first week of August.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:42 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Paul E. Connolly