Meeting, September 11, 2001

 

Present:  Paul Connolly, Raphael Herz, and Jeff Phillips

Absent:  Linda Wollschlager and Phil Verzani

 

The meeting was called to order by the chair at 6:45 PM in the Retirement Board Conference Room, Third Floor, Town Hall.

 

The committee discussed specific items on the warrant. (In these minutes, the items are referenced by the article number and short title that appears in the warrant.)

 

Article 18, Procedures for Selecting a New Town Administrator. The committee discussed changes to incorporate some provisions suggested in Article 17:  (1) Selectmen may decline to appoint a candidate from the list and instead direct the screening committee to reopen the search; (2) screening committee may no longer make the appointment if the Selectmen do not appoint; (3) Selectmen have complete control over composition of the screening committee. A new main motion incorporating Items 1 and 2 was offered. An amendment incorporating Item 3 was offered. The amendment was defeated (0-3). The main motion was approved unanimously (3-0). (See next page for main motion and amendment.)

 

Article 24, Qualifications of Town Administrator. The committee discussed changes to strengthen the experience requirement and to state a preference for a chief administrative officer. A new main motion was approved unanimously (3-0). (See next page for main motion.)

 

Minutes of the August 23 meeting were approved as written.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:49 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Paul E. Connolly

Article 18

Main Motion

 

Motion:  To amend Article 20 of the Town of Natick By-Laws by adding a new section as printed in the text of Article 18 with the following changes:

 

(1) Change the section number from '4' to '3'.

 

(2) Add a new sentence to the end of the fourth paragraph as follows:

 

If the screening committee determines that there are not at least two candidates qualified to perform the duties of Town Administrator, as those duties are described in Section 4-2 of the Charter, the screening committee shall report to the Board of Selectmen that it is unable to complete its assigned task.

 

(3) Rewrite the fifth paragraph as follows:

 

       Within thirty days following the date the list of nominees is submitted to it, the Board of Selectmen shall choose one of the said nominees to be appointed to the office of Town Administrator or, alternatively, shall direct the screening committee to reopen the search process. In the case when the screening committee reported that it could not complete its assigned task, the Board of Selectmen shall also direct the screening committee to reopen the search process. Whenever the search process is reopened, the foregoing procedure shall apply.

 

 

Article 18

Amendment to Main Motion

 

Motion:  To amend the main motion as follows:

 

(1) In the first paragraph, change the third sentence by deleting the phrase 'and shall send a copy of the notice to each town agency or officer responsible for designating persons to serve on the committee'.

 

(2) Delete the second paragraph.

 

 

Article 24

Main Motion

 

Motion:  To amend Article 20 of the Town of Natick By-Laws by adding a new section as follows:

 

Section 4            Qualifications for New Town Administrator

 

            A candidate for Town Administrator shall have a master's degree from an accredited college or university plus five years of experience or a bachelor's degree plus ten years of experience. All relevant experience shall demonstrate the skills needed to perform the duties of Town Administrator, as those duties are described in Section 4-2 of the Charter. Preferably, a candidate shall have served as the chief administrative officer of a city or town for five years.