Meeting, November 8, 2001

 

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

 

The meeting was called to order by the chair at 7:10 PM in the School Department Training Room, Third Floor, Town Hall.

 

Minutes of the October 15 meeting were approved as written.

 

The committee decided to continue the process for a systematic review in accordance with its previous practice. However, initial review will be scheduled for a shorter period of time and will take place near the beginning of the meeting. For the next meeting, initial review of the By-Laws, Articles 24 and 30, is scheduled. Mr. Verzani will find a new contact for Recreation in place of Peter Garland. Mr. Herz will talk to Charles Hughes, the new contact for the Board of Selectmen, about any desire for new by-laws about the qualifications of the deputy town administrator. All committee members for the next meeting will review tables entitled "Items Awaiting Review by the Committee" to identify items for priority consideration; members will also suggest any items for the Spring Town Meeting.

 

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. 5, s. 5-2(b). Mr. Connolly will again ask Town Counsel for a response to the committee's memo of May 22. Mr. Connolly will also prepare a report of the inconsistencies in the current language in the MGL and the charter and in the current practice in order to support future discussions with the School Committee contact. Mr. Herz will ask the Board of Selectmen contact about any desire to address issues with current procedures for the non-school budget.

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-1. The current draft needs to be updated. The committee unanimously voted (5-0) to postpone further consideration until May.

 

Charter, Art. 3, s. 3-12. The committee unanimously voted (5-0) to postpone further consideration until the next meeting.

 

By-Laws, Art. 20, s. 1. Mr. Connolly will review the MGL to determine whether or not officials appointed by the Town Administrator in Natick have a different appointing authority in the MGL. The committee unanimously voted (5-0) to postpone further consideration until December.

 

Mr. Phillips brought up the issue of compensating town employees who are reservists called to active duty for the difference between their regular pay and their military pay. The committee agreed to consider this change to the By-Laws, Art. 24, s. 7.4.

 

The committee decided to schedule meetings for Nov. 27, Dec. 11, Jan. 10, and Jan. 30.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Paul E. Connolly