HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Committee -- 2019-10-05 Minutes 6 W , A
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MINUTES OF THE CHARTER COMMITTEE MEETING
DATE : October 5, 2019
TIME : 8 : 00 AM
PLACE . Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street
PRESENT : Town Administrator Peter Lombardi, Town Clerk Colette Williams, Richard Koch , John Kissida , Karen
Whitney, Town Moderator Charlie Sumner, Cindy Bingham , William Meehan
Call to Order
Chair Whitney called the meeting to order at 8 : 00 am .
Public Comment
No Discussion
Discussion of Charter
• 8 : 05am Plannins Board
Kari Hoffman attended and spoke as a member of the Planning Board and as a citizen , not on behalf of the
entire Planning Board . She would prefer that the Planning Board stay an elected board . Increased outreach ,
education and recruitment could be tools used to expand candidate pools . She would like increased staff in
the Planning Department and to have all personnel hiring under the authority of the Town Administrator, as
opposed to appointed by the Planning Department . She would like to see no changes made to Town
Meeting . Further discussion will be had with the Town Planner and other members of the Planning Board at
a later date .
• 8 :45 Board of Health and Health Director
Annette Graczewski , Amy von Hone and Carmen Scherzo were in attendance Ms . Graczewski would prefer
the Town Administrator have the hiring the Health Director and management of the department . Mr .
Scherzo would prefer to keep the authority of hiring the Health Director under the Board of Health, not the
Town Administrator, but would like a collaboration with the Town Administrator and the Human Resources
department in the process . Following the hiring the Health director should be both under the oversight of
the Town Administrator and the Board of Health . All were in consensus that the board should stay elected vs .
appointed . Ms . Von Hone came from a community where there was an appointed Board , and they still had
difficulty finding qualified candidates . They would like to see more community engagement and outreach on
what the department and Board does . They prefer the Town Meeting format to stay as it is . Board term
limits were discussed , with possible extension of terms and introduction of associate members . The
committee gave an overview of the projects and issues/topics they are managing currently . The group
discussed their preference of hiring authority of the Health Director, and oversight responsibility of the
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Charter 10- 0549
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W� ''�y Town of Brewster Office of:
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department . They will have a further discussion with the entire board and give the results of that to the
committee at a later date .
• Recreation Commission and Recreation Director
Rollie Bassett and Sherri McCullough of the Recreation Commission , and Recreation Director Mike Gradone
were in attendance . The unofficial charge of the Recreation Commission was distributed , and the Charter
Committee will use that as a basis for the Charter . The preference was to stay an elected commission so that
they can keep the board as transparent as they have been , to provide the best programs and customer
service . They further discussed term limits, associate membership, inclusion of children from other towns
into the current programs and personnel hiring policy preferences .
• 10 : 15 am Constable , Police Chief, and Fire Chief
Rollie Bassett, Heath Eldredge and Robert Moran were in attendance . The Fire Chief operates under "Strong
Chief" of MGL . He would like to not see a change to this . Mr . Moran would like to keep the Chief as the sole
authority of the department, including the hiring and promotions of staff. The Police Chief operates under
"Strong Chief" as well , but that does not include the appointing of staff. Chief Eldredge would like to see
hiring and personnel management under the Police Chief overview . They further discussed possible changes
to the hiring/promotion/removal process that could include Administration , but not leave the sole discretion
to the Town Administrator or Select Board . An overview of the Emergency Management system was given
and preferences on how each would have on the structure codified in the Charter . The role of the Constable
needs more clear regulations defined . Mr . Bassett would support a 3 year term , and an alternate designee in
the event he was not able to perform his duty . Residency requirements were considered .
• 11 : OOam Old Kings' Highwav Historic District Committee,
Jim Trabulsi and Tom Turketta were in attendance . They gave a brief description of the committees charge . It
is primarily an elected board with one Select Board appointment . They operate under MGL . They prefer to
stay an elected board , and have 2 associate members, although the history of the election has been
uncontested races . Demolition Delay requires a bylaw, and the merits and length were considered . A charge
will be created for this committee based on the MGL . Term limits
• 11 : 45 Lunch Recess
• 12 : OODm Finance Committee
Tom Fitzgibbons, Mike Fitzgerald , Don Arthur were in attendance . The collective feeling of the committee
was they felt the 9 member was the appropriate number of members . They would like to remain moderator
appointed with a 3 year term . The name change of the committee and a more definitive charge is requested ,
which should include a recall provision . The finance committee should not be able to serve on other boards,
but should be defined that they are able to participate on a temporary committee . A staff support should be
available to them , and they would like it defined that they are able to write a report for the Town Report and
Town Warrant . A three year term should be extended to the Town Moderator as well . Mr . Arthur feels
committee should not be elected due to the expertise needed .
• 1 : OODm Select Board and Assistant Town Administrators,
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Charter 10-05- 19
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Town Administrator
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David Whitney, Mary Chaffee, Ben deRuyter, John Dickson , Donna Kalinick and Susan Broderick were in
attendance . Chair David Whitney called the joint meeting to order as they had a quorum of the Select Board .
Selectperson Chaffee spoke on appointed vs elected boards, and that under state law the Select Board must
be elected . She feels that the membership of candidates requires that they have a certain background and
expertise . Selectperson deRuyter supports Selectperson Chaffee' s comments and would like to reconsider
some boards being elected , such as the Planning Board . Selectperson Dickson has concern of the perception
of concentrating too much authority in the Select Board for appointed membership in committees . He
believes a hybrid approach is an excellent way to go . The School Committee and Housing Authority has to be
elected and cannot be changed . He also suggests bringing the Charter forward in two versions to Town
Meeting , Chair David Whitney feels that recruiting qualified candidates for appointment would be easier
than convincing people to run for the position . Assistant Town Administrator Susan Broderick asked if an
appointing authority would be considered outside of the Select Board . Donna Kalinick would like to have
information better distributed to the public, technical committees be educated , and support staff from Town
Hall provided . Selectperson deRuyter is supportive of the CEO/Town Administrator/Town Manager, as a
trained professional, be in charge of the hiring for all Town staff, as opposed to staff being appointed by a
board or other department head such as a Police or Fire Chief. Mr . Sumner asked about the hiring of Town
Counsel and what they preferred . Selectperson deRuyter feels the Select Board should appoint the Town
Counsel , with the recommendation of the Town Administrator , Selectperson Dickson agrees with a "advise
and consent by the Select Board " model . He is weary of the Select Board having any input on administrative
issues, as they are not properly trained in that area and that they should stay to policy issues . Further
discussion included bylaw revisions, licensing authority and delegation , and residency requirements . Further
discussion of Town Meeting and warrant issues ensued . Ms . Chaffee would like all boards and committees to
have Citizens Forum on their agenda and meetings .
Review, Discuss and Approve August 23 , September 12 , and September 20 , 2019 Meeting Minutes
Cindy Bingham moved to approve August 23 , September 12, and September 20, 2019 Meeting Minutes, Ms .
Williams asked to correct the minutes to reflect September 12, instead of August 12 . Ms . Bingham moved
with the correction , Mr . Koch second . The Board voted 8-Yes, 0—No .
Topics Not Reasonablv Anticipated by Chair
Flyers created by Ms . Williams can be distributed around Town .
Future Meetings - October 18, 2019 & November 1 . 2019 at 9am .
Adiournment
Mr. Sumner moved to adjourn at 2 : 38pm , Mr. Koch second . The Committee voted 8-Yes 0- No .
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Charter 10-0549
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Town of Brewster Office oa
2198 Main Street Select Board
Town Administrator
o Brewster, MA 026314898
to - 0 Phone : (508) 896- 3701
Fax: ( 508) 896- 8089
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Respectfully submitted,
Robin A Young
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Approved : l� Signed :
Date�
Accompanying Documents in Packet : Charter Time schedule, Flyer
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Charter 10-0549
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