Wednesday, June 11, 2014

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE

ORDINANCE REVIEW & CHARTER STUDY COMMITTEE

HELD MARCH 5, 2014 AT 7:00 P.M.

COMMISSION ROOM, BETHANY TOWN HALL

Present: Salvatore Amadeo

Robert H. Brinton, Jr.

Carol Goldberg

Paul Manger

W. Peter Simon, Jr.

1. CALL TO ORDER: at 7:07 PM. P. Simon volunteered to serve as

Recording Secretary.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Upon motion by P. Manger seconded by S.

Amadeo, the minutes for the meetings of March 10, 2014 written by

C. Goldberg and of April 7, 2014 written by R. Brinton were

unanimously approved as submitted.

3. CORRESPONDENCE. None.

4. VISITORS. None

5. ORDINANCE REVIEW AND CHARTER STUDY.

a. Bethany Board of Education Terms. Committee members

reported informal discussions with four separate Bethany

Board of Education members currently serving, three of whom

agreed that shortening the term from six to four years would

be desirable. The fourth was indifferent. Discussions had

about a possible recommendation to the Board of Selectmen to

shorten the term to four years.

b. Bidding/Purchasing. S. Amadeo distributed a draft document

for discussion purposes that might be modified to supplant

and modernize current Code Chapter 12, Bidding and

Purchasing. A copy is attached as Exhibit A. Discussions

had on an appropriate threshold to trigger the requirement

for requests for proposals, on publication/advertising of

notices, whether a petty cash fund is desirable, and what

emergency situations might justify circumvention of bidding.

Members agreed to review the draft document and continue

discussions.

c. Solid Waste. C. Goldberg reported on her continuing review

of Chapter 176, Solid Waste, which may culminate in a

recommendation to eliminate references to private

collectors.
d. Taxation.

i. Solar Exemption. R. Brinton pointed out that the

property tax exemption for solar energy heating or

cooling under Section 184-3 expired fifteen years

after 10/1/91, and now appears superfluous.

ii. Elderly/Disabled. Further discussions had on whether

Article VI (Section 184–8) is superseded by Article

VII (184–9), and whether Section 184–8 should be

repealed.

e. Vehicles and Traffic. R. Brinton reported that he consulted

with the Resident Trooper who indicated he does not

currently nor has he ever issued any citations under Chapter

194, Vehicles and Traffic, and that Chapter might be

suitable for repeal.

f. Blight. P. Simon stated that he would inquire of the Zoning

Enforcement Officer to determine whether authority granted

under the Code was believed adequate to deal with blight

related issues.

g. Terms for Alternates. Discussions had on whether alternates

for elected boards should have uniform two-year terms or

instead staggered terms.

h. Appointments to Fill Vacancies. Discussions had about

appointees to fill vacancies on elected boards: who should

appoint (the Board with the vacancy or the Board of

Selectmen), and whether the appointee’s term should be the

full remainder for the slot filled, or only until the next

election so that electors may decide who will fill the

vacancy for any remainder of the slot.

i. Minority Representation. Discussions had about the

desirability of elimination of Code provisions that achieve

minority representation though procedural mandates and

limitations on nominations and voting (e.g. ZBA Section

§97-6)(which may slow party shifts) in favor of provisions

that achieve minority representation with reference only to

the composition of the board or commission (which may allow

for quicker party shifts). C. Goldberg indicated that she

would try to communicate with the State Elections

Enforcement Commission officials and/or colleagues who might

have already explored these issues.

6. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF

SELECTMEN. Discussions had on whether this Committee’s

recommendations would be accompanied by specific language that

might supplant or modify exiting Code sections, or should instead

specific language to update the Code.

7. ANY OTHER MATTER PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING. None.

8. SCHEDULE FUTURE MEETINGS. Next meeting scheduled by agreement

for Monday, June 2, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

9. ADJOURNMENT. Upon motion by P. Simon seconded by C. Goldberg,

the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

Submitted by P. Simon, Recording Secretary Pro-Tem.



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