Present: R. Halpern, R. Maney, J. Blumengarten, D. Arden, C. Bowmar-Perry, and Warren Freeman.
Absent: E. Larkin, J. Bacigalupi, and C. Gasior.
Invited participants: Attorney Mike Curran, Consultant.
Audience: None.
A quorum being present, Dean Arden, Vice Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Ruth Maney motioned to accept the minutes of February 6, 2003; this motion was seconded by Warren Freeman and was unanimously approved, except Richard Halpern, who abstained.
Discussion
Mike Curran distributed a list of Special Acts that apply to Mashpee. He went through this list that he had compiled and gave an overview. Mike stated he will have draft copies of the existing Mashpee Charter at the Commission’s meeting next month and will deliver at that time a complete set of the full text of each of the Special Acts listed in the compilation. Mike noted that prior to the ratification of the Home Rule Amendment to the state constitution, in November 1966, legislation could be adopted by the state legislature concerning the internal affairs of Mashpee without the prior knowledge of the people in Mashpee, but that since 1966 Town Meeting has been required to pass on every request for any Special Act.
Mike then discussed General and Transitional Provisions topics. He noted that after it has finished writing the Charter, then the Commission will have to think how to put into effect…that’s the transitional process that comes into play. He reminded the Commission that things can be done by “piggy-back” by-law. Changes that are made using “piggy-back” by-laws can later be changed by Town Meeting.
Next Meeting
Next meeting…Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Topic: Legislative and Executive Branch Issues. Commission to come with specific questions.
ADJOURNMENT
Ruth motioned to adjourn the meeting; Richard seconded the motion; and it was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Giliberti, Recording Secretary
