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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Committee -- 2019-10-05 Minutes 6 W , A o� « ., Town of Brewster Office of: I Ae ; �'•,� �� 2198 Main Street Select Board 3 3 Is _ } a Town Administrator O to Brewster, MA 026314898 V0 � Phone : (508) 896-3701 Fax : ( 508) 896-8089 n�nMmnuu 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 www , brewster- ma .gov Charter 10- 0549 Page 1 of 4 a\\\\\\!iA9un A6!1 W� ''�y Town of Brewster Office of: 2198 Main Street select Board Town Administrator G Brewster, MA 026314898 V0 - Phone : ( 508) 896-3701 Fax : ( 508) 896- 8089 low 'w�//lfl�IIMIII{riN11\u\��� 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, www , brewster- ma . gov Charter 10-05- 19 Page 2 of 4 E W 8 r�y�Xt� o� 0 9 Town of Brewster Office o0 Select Boaard 2198 Main Street Town Administrator 3 a o Brewster, MA 02631 - 1898 _ � � VO - Phone : ( 508) 896=3701 Fax : ( 508) 896- 8089 g X�P�►OIIA�E �\ 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 . www , brewster-ma . gov Charter 10-0549 Page 3 of 4 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 iniim+u�\u Respectfully submitted, Robin A Young p 5 Approved : l� Signed : Date� Accompanying Documents in Packet : Charter Time schedule, Flyer www , brewster-ma . gov Charter 10-0549 Page 4 of 4