Mashpee Charter Commission
Mashpee Charter Commission
Minutes of Meeting Held Wednesday, May 29, 2002
Mashpee Town Hall Meeting Room 1
Present: D. Arden, J. Bacigalupi, C. Bowmar-Perry, C. Gasior, R. Halpern, E. Larkin, R. Maney, and E. Petti.
Absent: J. Blumengarten
Audience: Bea Perkins, League of Women Voters.
Dr. Petti, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Juan Bacigalupi motioned to approve the minutes as presented; this motion was seconded by Ruth Maney; and unanimously approved, with the exception of Ed Larkin, who abstained.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Bea Perkins addressed the Commission stating the League of Women Voters is interested in what the Charter Commission is doing. Juan Bacigalupi commented that the League in Braintree was very supportive of their process. Ed Larkin also noted that in Dedham the League was very supportive and a positive influence on the process there as well. Bea indicated the Mashpee League would be a presence at the Commission meetings.
CLERK’S REPORT
- Chuck Gasior, Clerk, gave everyone a copy of public hearing notice that Joyce Mason provided. Everyone said the notice looked fine.
- Joyce Mason working on letterhead and will get something to us. Temporarily she’ll provide template to use. Dean Arden asked whether we could have electronic access to the template. Chuck Gasior will check with Joyce.
- $5,000 statutory appropriation. Joyce advised Chuck that at Town Meeting it was voted and approved as of July 1, 2002. Ed Larkin commented that state law takes precedence over town meeting. Chuck will check with Joyce.
- Chuck stated that in reviewing the various materials, he noted essentially all Cape towns have a charter. He distributed copies of the following: May 17, 2002 letter from Jane Wallis Gumble, Department of Housing & Community Development; Charters of Bourne, Falmouth, and Sandwich; Copy of Proposed Mashpee Charter from 1980’s; and Form of Government sheet for a number of Cape and off-Cape towns. Richard Halpern noted that Plymouth’s proposed charter was not provided and he indicated he would like to see that proposed charter. Dean Arden said he would provide him with a copy.
WEB SITE
Dean Arden met with Steve Buss. We could use Town Web Site. It would be used in a limited sense, and Steve could put a link to Jerry’s Web Site. Jerry suggested we get Board of Selectmen permission to have the link. Board of Selectmen to review this request on Monday. Dean will advise when it is available.
PLAN OF ACTION
Dr. Petti recommended the following:
- Look at some of the charters and discuss how we’ll review them at subsequent meetings.
- Let’s determine where ideas are similar; where they differ.
- Determine priorities.
- Why are you here? What would you like to see accomplished? Responses to these questions were:
Juan…Legalistic document straightening out by-laws. Review Committees/positions to determine appointment vs. election.
E. Petti…Strong Town Manager.
Dean…Appointed Finance Committee; Financial reporting provided routinely to Town Voters; and every Town committee that deals with capital expenditure should have Finance Committee Member on the committee. Ed Larkin asked: How does the Finance Committee feel about appointment vs. election. Response: Mixed feelings. So far majority have not voted for appointments.
Ruth…Board of Health should be appointed.
Ed…Have a charter put into easy, readable, skeletal document. Charter outlines government and how it operates. Should be easy to understand and easy to read. By-Laws/Rules and Regulations still govern the Town. Will of people should prevail. Continuing, Ed Larkin said to get document adopted be careful in making proposals and changes; otherwise we could get into another election for Charter commission.
Cathy…Cohesive form of government. Cathy noted that appointees can get out of control. See qualifications of those wanting to serve.
Chuck…Selectmen rotate Chairman every year…term should be longer to be stronger and more effective form of government. Explore Mayor as a possibility?
Richard…Likes Mashpee Town Government. Likes open Town Meeting; likes having 5 Selectmen; likes this form of government; likes the way we change things at Town Meeting. Richard posed this question: Why do we need charter, if we can do changes at Town Meeting. Responses to this question were:
- Charter gives sovereignty…do not need state approval for change.
- Charter has to be approved by town elections, not by town meeting.
- More people vote versus attendance at town meeting. Thus have a broader base.
ACTION ITEMS
Dean and Cathy volunteered to put together a conceptual list of categories of elected/appointed committees and organizations within Town for review at next Charter Commission meeting.
Plan a schedule to meet with Department Heads. Juan reminded the group that state law requires that meetings be held during normal business hours.
Plan a schedule to meet with Board of Selectmen and to meet with various committees.
Notice of June 19 Public Hearing to be posted in newspaper. Additionally post at Library, Post Office and Town Hall. Articles could be placed in Cape Cod Times and Mashpee Enterprise informing what Charter Commission is doing.
June 19 Public Hearing is to let people tell us what they want.
Volunteers to serve on subcommittee(s):
Ruth Maney – Health
Juan Bacigalupi – Safety
NEXT MEETING
Wednesday, June 5, 2002, 7 p.m. at Town Hall Meeting Room #2.
ADJOURNMENT
Juan Bacigalupi motioned the meeting be adjourned at 8:20 p.m.; this motion was seconded by Ruth Maney; and was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Giliberti
Recording Secretary
