Town of Natick

Charter and By-Law Review Committee

13 East Central Street

Natick, Massachusetts 01760

 

Meeting, June 28, 2001

 

Present:  Paul Connolly, Raphael Herz, and Linda Wollschlager

Absent:  Jeff Phillips and Phil Verzani

 

The meeting was called to order by the chair at 7:16 PM in the School Department Training Room, Third Floor, Town Hall.

 

Minutes of the June 14 meeting were approved as written.

 

The committee discussed the specific items on the agenda. (In these minutes, the items are referenced by the short designation that appears in the agenda.)

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-12. Mr. Herz reported on his conversation with Peter Garland of the Recrea­tion and Human Services Commission and stated that more information needs to be obtained. The committee unanimously (3-0) agreed to postpone further consideration until the next meeting.

 

By-Laws, Art. 10, s. 2. Ms. Wollschlager provided a typed version of the new table as approved on June 14. The committee agreed that the new typed version omitted two committees and that the "Rep. to" phrase ought to be dropped. Ms. Wollschlager will prepare a final typed version.

 

By-Laws, Art. 20, s. 1. Ms. Wollschlager provided a typed version of the new table as approved on June 14. After considerable discussion about the intent of the June 14 vote (final draft approval; or draft approved for continued coordination), the committee agreed that the latter was the intent, but that no additional coordination would take place. Several members expressed concern about being able to solve outstanding issues in time for a recommendation to Town Meeting this fall. In summary, the table in the approved draft is simply a reorganized version of the current table in the By-Laws with four inactive positions dropped.

 

The committee unanimously (3-0) voted to request from the Deputy Town Administrator copies of the administrative code. Mr. Connolly will prepare a draft of the memo for review and, after coordination and revision, will send it within a week.

 

Charter, Art. 5, s. 5-2(b). Ms. Wollschlager reported that no feedback is expected from the contact for the School Committee until September. The committee unanimously (3-0) voted to defer action until September.

 

Charter, Art. 4, s. 4-1(c); By-Laws, Art. 20, s. 3. Ms. Wollschlager reported on some informal discussions with voters about the draft by-law on minimum qualifications for a new Town Administrator. The committee expects that more comments may be received on July 26 before the committee takes final action; therefore, it does not plan to make any changes before that time.

Charter, Art. 4, s. 4-1(b). Mr. Connolly circulated a memo on possible changes in the procedure for selecting a new Town Administrator. The committee deferred action until the next meeting.

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-1(d). Preliminary elections. The committee briefly discussed some ideas in a position paper prepared by Mr. Connolly. The committee deferred action until the next meeting. Mr. Connolly will prepare a draft version of a charter change that will skip preliminary elections if the number of candidates for an office does not exceed three times the number to be elected.

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-1(d). Increased signatures. The committee deferred action until the next meeting.

 

The committee discussed recent media coverage that used the phrase "obscure committee." The committee found it difficult to believe that the reporter had not been aware of the extensive publicity campaign in March. Nevertheless, the committee expects to utilize a similar publicity campaign to seek public feedback before final votes on July 26.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:35 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Paul E. Connolly