HomeMy Public PortalAbout9-21-2010 Charter Commission Minutes as amendedCommissioners:
Mark S. Sideris,
Chair
Stephen P. Corbett
Michael Donham
John A. Donohue
Dennis J. Duff
Susan G. Falkoff
Anthony Palomba
Rhiana Kohl
Angeline B. Kounelis
Cecilia Lenk
Pamela Piantedosi
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.
John J. Lawn, Jr.
David Siegel
Athelia Tilson
Charter Commission
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6470
MINUTES
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
RICHARD E. MASTRANGELO CHAMBER
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
1. ROLL CALL: A regular meeting of the Charter Commission was called
to order at 7:00 pm, in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber,
Administration Building. Present for the meeting were Commissioners
Michael Donham, John A. Donohue, Dennis J. Duff, Susan G. Falkoff,
Anthony Palomba, Rhiana Kohl, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk,
Pamela Piantedosi, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., John J. Lawn, Jr., David Siegel
and Chair President Mark S. Sideris. Commissioners Tilson and Corbett
were absent.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: September 7, 2010; amendments.
Commissioner Donham moved the minutes as amended, seconded by
Commissioner Duff and adopted by unanimous voice vote with
Commissioners Michael Donham, John A. Donohue, Dennis J. Duff,
Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Rhiana Kohl, Angeline B. Kounelis,
Cecilia Lenk, Pamela Piantedosi, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., John J. Lawn,
Jr., David Siegel and Chair President Mark S. Sideris voting in favor.
3. PUBLIC FORUM: On current form of government.
The Chair stated that there was a Sense of the Council vote by the
Commission to retain the current form of government. The Chair opened
up the forum for public comment.
1. Clyde Younger, 188 Acton Street — asked that the Commission
present a side -by -side comparison of the two forms of government;
town council/manager versus mayor for the public.
The Chair stated that a full comparison/presentation was provided by
Commissioner Siegel to the public in July. A DVD of the presentation is
available to anyone who missed the presentation. The Chair indicated
that he will request that Watertown Cable replay the presentation for their
viewers.
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Commissioner Siegel noted that the presentation is also posted on the
town's website.
Burt Greenberg, Duff Street — stated that the current form of town
government has led to the accomplishment of many good things including
the town being in good financial condition while other towns have not
fared so well.
Commissioner Falkoff moved to retain the current form of government,
seconded by Commissioner Lenk.
The Chair recognized Commissioner Pamela Piantedosi who read a
statement with respect to a written invitation extended to East Watertown
Betterment Association members by Commissioner Kounelis.
She noted that it was her opinion that the dear friend letter projected the
government as a subgroup of powerful and influential people with
disregard for the public they serve. Commissioner Piantedosi stated that
the letter omitted important facts including that the two authors of the
minority report went on to serve under this government that they opined
about. She asked how has the current form of government failed our
community; how have the manager's appointments failed our community
and indicated that though the commission lacked a unanimous vote for
our current form of government thirty years ago, this form of government
has proven its success from its lack of failures.
Councilor Kounelis stated that she took it upon herself as part of
community service to notify residents of ongoing issues in hopes that they
will participate. She noted that the participation has been minimal and
that this is the only time that the Charter is to be reviewed and voice
opinions on how you would like to see Watertown organized for the next
several years. The turn out tonight is disappointing she stated.
Commissioner Falkoff indicated that perhaps the lack of participation from
the public suggests a sense of satisfaction with the government as it is.
Commissioner Donham stated that from what he has heard from residents
is that the dissatisfaction is not so much with the form of government but
whether or not a particular department is doing its job — is the government
performing well not whether the government itself is the problem. He
indicated that he asks people how a new form of government will solve
the problem that you have with streets, trees, and no one has been able
to give him an answer.
Commissioner Piccirilli stated that Councilor Kounelis' letter raises
important questions and points, which is what our job here requires us to
do, to raise and answer such questions. He noted that no one has yet to
say that having an elected mayor will raise the level of government from
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what we currently have. He stated that if you look at accountability,
transparency and balance of power issues you will find that there is more
of that with the current form of government than with an elected mayor.
Councilor Piccirilli stated that mayors create the budget and make policy
decisions often in private and mindful of his/her group of supporters. The
balance of power, he stated is with the town council/manager form of
government; which has more checks and balances along with the power
to fire the manager. To the contrary, a mayor sets policy, creates and
administers the budget; it is a "winner -take -all" system.
With respect to the "inner circle" implying "advice"; Councilor Piccirilli
stated that it is well known that people will act in their own self interest, as
the individual profits, so does the system. He noted that with a
professional manager, who has a boss (the council), it is in the manager's
self interest to keep his job and to do that the manager needs to do a
good job managing the town and in meeting the guidelines set forth by the
council. The inner circle, he stated, represents the majority of 5
councilors who will vote in open session. In contrast, an elected mayor
answers to the majority of voters and supporters; because it takes money
to run for office, undue influence of supporters create the inner circle
along with the political allies where decisions are not happening in public
session. He asked, what is more beneficial, 9 councilors providing advice
in public or political allies providing advice in private? Councilor Piccirilli
state that no form of government is perfect; the best we can do is create a
system of maximizing positive effects and minimizing negative effects.
Councilor Kounelis stated that her correspondence accomplished what
she set out to do, which was to create dialogue and participation. She
stated that she is delighted that Commissioner Piantedosi brought this
forward and critiqued her ever word; it means a lot. Councilor Kounelis
stated that she would like to read the entire document. After its reading,
Councilor Kounelis stated that her letter is not giving an opinion as there is
nothing bias or selective in it.
Commissioner Palomba stated that he would like to voice his appreciation
to Councilor Kounelis for reaching out to residents as that was one of the
stated goals of the Commission early on; to reach out and speak to
organizations regarding the review of the Charter. This is called the
Charter Review Commission and sometimes he noted he feels that we
are having discussions on the role of democracy. There are cities across
the country that operate with a mayor — to place it in context that one is
more democratic than the other is wrong he stated. Commissioner
Palomba indicated that the Commission has struggled with trying to figure
out the best way to review a document that is be boring and tedious and
the Commission keeps going back to discussing the forms of government.
He noted that he would like to move away from that discussion and talk
about what we might want to change in the Charter.
Clyde Younger stated that Councilor Kounelis should be lauded for
mailing this correspondence to the community in an outreach effort.
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Pat Gold, Duff Street — applauded Councilor Kounelis for her efforts, she
noted her own efforts in sending out letters to get people involved. Ms.
Gold stated that the Charter was reviewed in 2001 with minor changes
being voted which re -affirmed the Charter was working. Thirty years of
the Charter working tells you something she noted.
Burt Greenberg, Duff Street — the Commission did not fail in its duty, the
fact that people did not attend this meeting is a reflection of residents
satisfied with the current form of government.
The Chair indicated that the Commission has already reached out in a
number of way, Commissioners can continue to reach out on their own to
groups or residents for future meetings.
Roy Dell William, former teacher — asked that an open forum take place at
the high school with students and parents.
The Chair noted that going forward he would like to have a subset of this
Commission take to the road and conducts informal meetings.
On the motion to retain the current form of government and upon a roll
call vote, it was adopted 12-1 with Commissioners Michael Donham, John
A. Donohue, Dennis J. Duff, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Rhiana
Kohl, Cecilia Lenk, Pamela Piantedosi, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., John J.
Lawn, Jr., David Siegel and Chair President Mark S. Sideris voting in favor
and Commissioner Kounelis voting no.
Clyde Younger asked that the Commissioners have a Reconsideration
vote as the Council does with its annual budget.
Commissioner Donohue moved to reconsider the vote to retain this form
of government with the hopes that the motion fails, seconded by
Commissioner Duff and defeated by unanimous roll call vote with
Commissioners Michael Donham, John A. Donohue, Dennis J. Duff,
Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba, Rhiana Kohl, Angeline B. Kounelis,
Cecilia Lenk, Pamela Piantedosi, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., John J. Lawn Jr.,
David Siegel and Chair Mark S. Sideris voting no.
4. NEW BUSINESS
The Chair took up Article 6 and 8. The Chair asked that any proposed
changes discussed tonight be forwarded to the Clerk at the end of the
process for which a meeting will be held and all the proposed changes will
be discussed in-depth.
There was a discussion on whether to continue with a ten year review of
the Charter. The Chair recognized Cass Sabier, Arthur Terrace resident
who spoke in support of retaining the current review process of every ten
years with citizens serving on the Commission. There was discussion on
whether or not to retain the five year review of Ordinances. The pros and
cons were discussed and it was decided to propose a change to have the
review of the codification of town Ordinance be done internally by the
Town Clerk.
The Chair announced that the next meeting will take place on October 5th
with continued discussion on outreach; a presentation by the Town Clerk
and if time allows, continued discussion on Article 8. The Chair
announced that the Commission will take up Article 2 on October 19th
5. ADJOURNMENT — 9:00 pm. Commissioner Donohue
moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Lenk and
adopted by unanimous voice vote with Commissioners Michael Donham,
John A. Donohue, Dennis J. Duff, Susan G. Falkoff, Anthony Palomba,
Rhiana Kohl, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Lenk, Pamela Piantedosi,
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., John J. Lawn, Angeline Kounelis, David Siegel and
Chair Mark S. Sideris voting in the affirmative.