Minutes

Town of Wellfleet

Charter Review Committee

Meeting Minutes

February 20, 2018

Wellfleet Town Hall, Basement Meeting Room                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Present: Harry Terkanian, Barbara Cary, Denny O’Connell, Deborah Freeman, Paul Cullity, Roger Putnam, Helen Miranda Wilson

The meeting of the Charter Review Committee (“CRC”) was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chairperson Deborah Freeman.

It was moved, seconded and VOTED 5-0 to accept the Minutes of the CRC meeting of January 16, 2018 as amended (Helen Miranda Wilson abstained, as she had not been present at the meeting.)  

Discussion

The CRC had received several comments in response to the posting of the revised charter draft. 

John Duane of Wellfleet, in his e-mail dated February 2, 2018, stated he believed it was best to leave the hiring of the Herring Warden and Shellfish Constable to the Select Board, thus having a group of people to debate the merits of any candidates up for consideration.  He further stated that he spoke only for himself, and not for either the Natural Resources Advisory Board or the Shellfish Advisory Board (John is a member of both).

Helen Miranda Wilson commented she had attended the most recent Shellfish Advisory Board (“SAB”) meeting, but that the SAB hadn’t known about the schedule for giving feedback about this Charter change in time to include it on their agenda, so this issue could not be acted on.  However, there had been a brief exchange of the Charter revision which transfers hiring authority of the Shellfish Constable to the Town Administrator from the Select Board.  Helen reported that no one at the meeting who commented thought it was a good idea, though John Duane’s e-mail is the only written comment received thus far. 

The CRC further reviewed the question of whether an individual to be managed by the Town Administrator should be hired by the Town Administrator, or whether it is more effective for the Shellfish Constable, in particular, to be hired by the Select Board, which arguably is in an better position to collect information about a candidate from a wider base. 

The CRC understands the sensitive nature of this change, and the potential delay in acceptance of the charter revision it could cause.  A possible amendment to the proposed draft which would transfer the hiring authority back to the Select Board, to be presented at Town Meeting if necessary, was discussed.    In anticipation of further discussion of the matter at the upcoming Wellfleet Community Forum meeting, scheduled for February 22, 2018, (the “Forum”) it was decided no changes to the draft be made, and no amendment prepared, at this time.

It was moved, seconded and VOTED 6-1, to leave the revised charter draft as posted, and to present it to the Forum as is, and defer further deliberations until comments received at the Forum.  Helen Miranda Wilson requested that the fact that the vote was not unanimous, and her opposition to the motion, be noted.

Written comments from Dan Hoort, via e-mail dated February 12, 2018, were also received.  Dan requested clarification of two items, and further commented that he was not sure having the TA appoint the Shellfish Constable is good idea, noting that if the TA is new he or she may not have the proper background to select the Constable.   The latter point had been part of the previous discussion, prior to the vote noted above.

E-mailed comments from Jude Ahern, dated February 8, and 12, 2018, were received, however they were not discussed as they consisted largely of declaratory statements with no particular questions or recommendations the CRC could address. 

Finally it was noted that a “comment cut-off date” was posted on the town website, because CRC wanted to be prepared for the Forum, however it was agreed that the Committee continues to be receptive to all comments. 

No further meetings of the CRC are scheduled pending comments from the Forum.

The CRC Meeting was adjourned by consensus at 3:50 p.m.

Public Documents

E-mail dated February 8, 2018, from Jude Ahern

E-mail dated February 9, 2018 from John Duane

E-mail dated February 12, 2018 from Dan Hoort

E-mail dated February 12, 2018, from Jude Ahern