2020-03-12-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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03/12/2020 AC Minutes will go forward, including Article 4, into a single consent vote. Given the magnitude and importance of the Town's operating budget, which exceeds $200 million, he suggested that Town Meeting has a responsibility to demonstrate to Town residents that it has given Article 4 a careful, separate review. Mr. Padaki concurred. Other members noted that last year the discussion of the operating budget article was short, and not more controversial than other articles involving smaller appropriations. • Publication of all motions in advance would be helpful • The Town Meeting Members Association listsery could be used for raising questions, for responses, and discussion. • Opening the ATM on March 23 does not seem realistic; more preparation time is needed. Town Meeting members are used to having material presented to them; reading material in advance will require an adjustment including a delay in the start. • It could be preferable to plan on two or three town meeting sessions with specifically identified consent agendas/articles assigned to each. • It is not clear how this Committee could function during a virtual Town Meeting without physically being in the same room, particularly if there were an amendment or other development requiring the Committee to confer and vote. This would also be true for the Capital Expenditures Committee, the SB and the School Committee. This needs to be reviewed with Ms. Brown. • There will likely be financial ramifications, including a possible recession, associated with this pandemic, which should be addressed sooner than later. Ms. Kosnoff clarified the following: • Regarding the postponement of planning articles: If such articles were indefinitely postponed (IP'ed), a stringent process, involving a two-year delay, would be required to bring them back to a future town meeting. Under current circumstances, it is preferable to refer these articles back to the Planning Board or to the SB, which could bring them to a future Town Meeting on behalf of the original proponent(s). • The current idea is that the ATM would be broadcast on LexMedia and Town Meeting members would vote on their phones. • Over the last three years, there has been no substantive discussion about Article 4 during the ATM. • The SB plans to discuss the process at their Monday evening meeting. Mr. Parker asked for a motion to accept Ms. Brown's proposal with the understanding that he would forward concerns expressed during the discussion about including Article 4 on a consent agenda, and he would ask how this Committee would function if it had to take a vote during the ATM. A motion was made and seconded to accept Ms. Brown's proposal as presented in her document, with the caveats summarized by Mr. Parker. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 2020 ATM Financial Articles and Report Planning Mr. Parker identified the financial articles that still require finalized material for this Committee's report. He then identified the following articles individually for Ms. Yan to add her vote: • Article 4: Appropriate FY2021 Operating Budget • Article 6: Establish Qualifications for Tax Deferrals • Article 7: Petition General Court to Amend Legislation Regarding Tax Deferrals: • Article 8: Short Term Rental Impact Fee 2