Hearing Guidelines and SB Agenda

TOWN OF ASHFIELD SELECT BOARD
MEETING AGENDA
(preliminary and subject to change)
January 13, 2010 7 pm

1. PUBLIC HEARING

PURPOSE

The purpose of this hearing is to ask questions and/or provide feedback to members of the Select Board regarding the letter received from the District Attorney’s office dated December 29, 2009. It was found that the Ashfield Select Board violated the Open Meeting Law by engaging in certain email discussions of substantive matters and that the Select Board improperly convened emergency meetings during July 2009. The findings of the DA’s office and recommended remedies are explained in this letter. (Copies of this letter and the relevant emails are available at Town Hall.)

HEARING GUIDELINES

Former Select Board member Susan Todd has agreed to serve as Moderator of the hearing so that the present Select Board members may fully devote themselves to hearing and considering observations and comments from the public. Time will be limited for this hearing, so it is important to offer comments that are clear and well organized. To that end, these guidelines are to be followed:

1. People wishing to speak should sign in by name so the Moderator can call upon them.

2. As is customary, each speaker should stand and identify him/herself by name and address. (Please keep all questions or comments clear and to the point.)

3. The first person to speak for or against a particular position will have 2 minutes to make their comment. The next person to speak on the other side of the same issue will also be granted 2 minutes to speak to that issue.

4. Thereafter, all are asked to keep their questions or comments remarks brief (1 minute) and to the point. Repetition of points already made should be kept to a minimum. (We wish to hear from as many people with different viewpoints as possible.)

5. Questions can be asked as the hearing proceeds. The questions should be aimed at drawing out all the facts and clearing up points of confusion, and should not be argumentative.

6. The Moderator will try to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak before returning to an earlier speaker.

7. Toward the end of the allotted time, a summary statement for/against each major issue will be sought. It should be kept to 3 minutes in length.

2. Minutes
January 6, 2010, Open Meeting
January 6, 2010, Executive Session

3. APPOINTMENTS:
a. Appointment of Nancy Garvin to Historic Commission
b. Discussion with Wayne Sampson, Executive Director, The Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association

4. LIAISON REPORTS

a. Police
b. Fire
c. Highway
d. Emergency Manager (Emergency Action Plan for Dam & Signatures)
e. Town Hall

5. OLD BUSINESS
a. Hearing Policy
b. Confiscated Weapons Inventory
c. Police Department Firearms Inventory
d. Tax relief

6. MAIL
a. Franklin Regional Transportation Plan Update
b. Senior Center discussions
c. Franklin County Cooperative Inspection Program Annual Budget Meeting

7. NEW BUSINESS

8. Vote/Signatures
a. Motion to ratify the Select Board’s July 2, 2009 unanimous vote “to appoint the following slate of people except for Chief John Svoboda and Bill Perlman as Emergency Manager and Field Driver.” [The slate is titled “2010 Appointments” and is part of Exhibit C to the December 29, 2009 letter from District Attorney’s Office.] These appointments are to be nunc pro tunc (effective retroactively to the time of the emergency action).

b. Motion to ratify the Select Board’s July 2, 2009 vote “to appoint Bill Perlman as Emergency Manager and Field Driver.” These appointments are to be nunc pro tunc (effective retroactively to the time of the emergency action).

9. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
January 14 @ 7:30 pm – Select Board & Finance Committee Meeting
January 15 @ 3 pm – Select Board Executive Hearing
January 16/17 – sign warrants
January 20 @ 6 pm – Select Board Executive Hearing
January 20 @ 8 pm – Select Board Meeting
January 21 @ 7:30 pm – Select Board & Finance Committee Meeting
January 27 @ 7 pm – Select Board Meeting
January 28 @ 7:30 pm – Select Board & Finance Committee Meeting

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION (If needed)