Meeting, December 14, 2000

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

This first meeting of the committee convened in the Selectmen's meeting room at 8 PM.

Town Clerk Jane M. Hladick was present at the start of the meeting to administer the oath of office to members who had not previously been sworn. She also distributed copies of the charter and the by-laws to all members.

The committee informally discussed a number of subjects. No chairperson was elected. Mr. Connolly volunteered to record the minutes. Election of officers will take place at the next meeting.

Inputs from Town officers, boards, and committees and from the general public are necessary for the committee to accomplish its work. At the next meeting, the committee plans to prepare a letter to Town officers, boards, and committees requesting their initial inputs.

The committee envisioned a schedule for its work that will permit the submission of warrant articles for Town Meeting by the first week of August. At the next meeting, the committee plans to define its goals and plan of action. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 4 and 25, Feb. 8 and 22 at 7 PM. Mr. Connolly is going to find an available meeting room.

The committee decided to make effective use of e-mail to share information. All members acknowledged that any e-mails are considered part of the public record. Ms. Wollschlager is going to provide the e-mail addresses of all committee members. She will also look into the possibility of using a web site during the course of the committee's activities. In addition, she plans to obtain copies of the disks containing the charter and the by-laws from the Town Clerk so that it will be easier for the committee to prepare any recommended changes to the charter and by-laws.

Before the next meeting, all members plan to start reviewing Articles 1 to 4 of the charter and the first three sections of the by-laws (Town Meeting, Elected Officials, Appointed Officials [see table of contents]).

The meeting adjourned at 10 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Paul E. Connolly