Meeting, October 15, 2001

 

Present:  Paul Connolly, Raphael Herz, Linda Wollschlager, and Jeff Phillips

Absent:  Phil Verzani

Others present:  Charles Hughes, Frank Foss, and Paul Griesmer

 

The meeting was called to order by the chair at 6:37 PM in the Community Development Confer­ence Room, Second Floor, Town Hall.

 

Minutes of the September 25 meeting were approved as written.

 

The committee discussed various motions to be recommended to the Finance Committee under Article 3 of STM 10/23/2001.Inputs were provided by others in attendance. Most discussion focused on the composition of the screening committee. Mr. Hughes also mentioned that Town Counsel had obtained an opinion from the Secretary of State's office that another motion requesting legislative approval may be required and that authorizing the Board of Selectmen to take such action may be appropriate.

 

The committee voted (3-1) to recommend a main motion and two amendments for Finance Committee consideration. One amendment retained the current composition of the screening committee. The other amendment restricted designating agencies to name one person only, thereby giving the Board of Selectmen four appointments. (See next page for main motion and amendments.)

 

The committee voted (4-0) to support several actions of the Finance Committee:  (1) The Finance Committee recommends the main motion and both amendments to Town Meeting, thereby making it possible for the Town Meeting to choose either of the two options for the composition of the screening committee; (2) The Finance Committee incorporates either amendment into the main motion and recommends the amended main motion to Town Meeting.

 

The committee voted (3-0-1) not to support action by the Finance Committee recommending a screening committee with a majority appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

 

The committee voted (4-0) to offer an amendment at Town Meeting to give the Board of Selectment only four appointees if the Finance Committee recommends that a majority be appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

 

Ms. Wollschlager left the meeting at 8:30 PM. The committee agreed not to schedule another meeting before October 23, but to leave the decision to the chair if events required one. The meeting recessed at 9:00 PM so that Mr. Herz could report the committee's decisions to the Board of Selectmen currently meeting. Mr. Phillips left the meeting at 9:00 PM. The meeting reconvened at 9:45 PM and immediately adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Paul E. Connolly
Main Motion:  Move that the Town vote to amend Article 20 of the Town of Natick By-Laws by adding a new section as printed in the text of Article 3 with the following changes:

 

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

 

(2) In the first paragraph, change the last sentence by replacing the phrase "screening committee shall be appointed" with the phrase "Board of Selectmen shall appoint the screening committee".

 

 

Amendment Same Composition

 

Amendment:  Move to amend the main motion by adding a new change as follows:

 

(3) Add to the second paragraph the following sentences:

 

The Planning Board and the School Committee may each designate one person to serve on the screening committee; the Finance Committee, the Personnel Board, and the Town Moderator may each designate two persons. Persons chosen by the said agencies may, but need not, be members of the agency by which they are chosen, and, in the case of the Town Moderator, the persons may, but need not, be members of Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint to the screening committee all such persons designated, provided that their names have been received in writing by the day before the screening committee is to be appointed. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint any other members to the screening committee so that the total membership is nine.   

 

 

Amendment Appoint 4 by Board of Selectmen

 

Amendment:  Move to amend the main motion by adding a new change as follows:

 

(3) Add to the second paragraph the following sentences:

 

The Planning Board, the School Committee, the Finance Committee, the Personnel Board, and the Town Moderator may each designate one person to serve on the screening committee. Persons chosen by the said agencies may, but need not, be members of the agency by which they are chosen, and, in the case of the Town Moderator, the person may, but need not, be a member of Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint to the screening committee all such persons designated, provided that their names have been received in writing by the day before the screening committee is to be appointed. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint any other members to the screening committee so that the total membership is nine.