Charter Revision Commission Meeting
Regular Meeting
June 19, 2007

Present: Joseph Amend; Dorothy DiPiro; Brian Gouin; Richard Murphy (chair); Sharon Scaramella
Absent: Carl Fitzgibbons, Susan Malecky

1. Call Meeting to Order

Chairman Murphy called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm.

2. Accept Agenda

There was a motion by Joseph Amend, seconded by Brian Gouin, to accept the agenda. Vote unanimous, motion carried.

3. Accept Minutes

There was a motion by Brian Gouin, seconded by Joseph Amend to accept the minutes of the June 4, 2007 meeting. Vote unanimous, motion carried.

4. Public Comment none

5. Other Business

Brian Gouin asked if Attorney Mednick has answered the questions submitted to him by the Commission members which arose as a result of the ongoing revision of the Charter. Chairman Murphy indicated that the questions were submitted, but no response has been received yet.

Brian Gouin indicated that he feels the minutes from the 6-4-07 meeting are technically correct, but that they are also incomplete. The Commission's decisions need to be included and the minutes should be re-done. Chairman Murphy will ask if the tape is available to be transcribed.

6. Discussion/ Review Charter (On-going)

Commission members began discussion and review of the Charter at Chapter 3: Town Meetings, Public Hearings and Referendums.

Commission members agreed after discussion that Chapter 4 will be renamed: General Town Budget and Associated Referendums'

[Dorothy DiPiro joined the meeting at 6:50 pm.]

Commission members agreed after discussion that section 3-1 Legislative Powers and Voter Eligibility will be revised to read as follows:
The legislative powers of the Town shall be vested in the Board of Selectmen as specified in sections [insert section # here] of this charter. The legislative power of the Town shall also be vested in the Town Meeting, Special Town Meetings or referendums as provided by the Charter.

Section 3-1.2: no changes
Section 3-2: no changes
Section 3-2.1: no changes
Section 3-2.2 Special Town Meetings: (recodification of section 501)
Section 3-3.1: no changes
Section 3-3.2: no changes

Section 3-3.3: After discussion, Commission members agreed that this section will be revised to read as follows:
For all town meetings, business will be conducted in accordance with the latest version of Roberts Rules of Order, unless superseded by this Chapter of the Charter.

Section 3-3.4: After discussion, Commission members agreed that this section will be it was decided that this section will revised to read as follows:

The Town Clerk shall serve as Clerk of all Town Meetings but, in case of an absence, the meeting shall select an Acting Clerk per Roberts Rules of Order.
(Recodification of current Section 505).

Section 3-3.5: Voting Protocol: after discussion, Commission members agreed that this section will be revised to read as follows:
Any vote to be taken at a Town Meeting or a Special Town Meeting shall be by a ballot and checklist. However, before any vote is taken, the Moderator shall ask the question, "Does anyone attending this Town Meeting agree this vote may be done by a show of hands?" Should at least fifty-one (51%) percent of those in attendance and eligible to vote at such a meeting agree, then that vote shall be done by a show of hands.

Section 3-4.1: Meetings for Town Improvements

After discussion, Commission members decided to revisit this section after referring the following question(s) to Atty. Mednick:

• Can you research what CGS says about the powers of planning & zoning?
  
• Can we change this to approved or disapproved proposals?

The meeting was recessed at 7:30 pm.

The meeting reconvened at 7:50 pm.

Commission members discussed and decided on the following for section 3-4.2:

a) no changes
b) no changes
c) no changes
d) no changes
e) no changes
f) no changes
g) no changes
h) no changes
i) no changes
j) revised to read as follows:
Any recommendation by the Board of Selectmen for the adoption or repeal of any ordinance.

ADD item (k) Such other matters or proposals as the Selectmen, in their discretion, shall deem to be of sufficient importance to be submitted to a Special Town Meeting

Section 3-5 Referendums (Excluding General Fund Budget Referendums)
Remove note

Section 3-5.1 (a): will be revisited after opinion from Attorney Mednick is received.
Section 3-5.1(b): no changes
Section 3-5.1 (c): after discussion, Commission members agreed to revise this section to read as follows:
c) any contemplated or proposed action by the Town regarding use of eminent domain.

Section 3-5.2 will be revisited after Atty. Mednick gives his opinion on the following questions:

• What qualifies as a special referendum?
  
• What qualifies as a referendum?
  
• What are the percentages to pass a special referendum?
  
• What percent to vote, what percent affirmative?

Section 3-6: commission members decided that this section will be revisited after opinion from Atty. Mednick is received on the following questions:

• Can autonomous decisions made by planning & zoning be subject to petition for overrule?

Section 3-6.1 (d): this section will be revisited after decision by Atty. Mednick on the following question:

• What is required by state statutes for petitions? Full text? On every page? On cover page only?

Section 3-6.1 (d) Change 'repealed' to 'overruled'
Section 3-6.2: no changes
Section 3-6.3: no changes
Section 3-6.4: When the distinction of between referendum and town referendum is determined, (Atty. Mednick) this section will be revisited.
Section 3-6.5: no changes
Section 3-6.6: This section will be revisited when the Atty. Mednick gives answers to the following questions:

• What can be superseded?
  
• Can regular & special referendums be superseded?
  
• Is the reference correct here, or should it be 7-157 as changed in 3-6 item 5?

Section 3-7: no changes

7. Adjourn

Brian Gouin made a motion, seconded by Sharon Scaramella, to adjourn the meeting. Vote unanimous, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Laura Siena
Board Clerk