Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal OSMinutes 10.23.12.pdf Final Approved 11.13.12 MINUTES MINUTEMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 23,2012 6:30 pm PAUL REVERE ROOM,MINUTEMAN HIGH SCHOOL Present. Alice DeLuca, Chair(Stow) Kemon Taschioglou(Lincoln) Jeff Stulin,Vice-Chair(Needham) Laura Morrissette(Arlington) Came Flood, Secretary(Concord)(amved 6.32 pm) Dore Hunter(Acton) Cheryl Mahoney(Boxborough) Jack Weis(Belmont) Peter Farmer(Lancaster) Mary Ellen Castagno(Wayland) David Manjarrez(Sudbury) David Horton(Lexington) Absent: John Blyzinskyj (Weston) Ford Spalding(Dover) Don Rober(Carlisle) Others Present. Ed Bouquillon(arrived 6 34 pm), Elizabeth Rozan,Kris Luoto,John Pelletier,Lindy Jaquith(Carlisle parent) I OPEN SESSION• CALL TO ORDER The Chair called the meeting to order at 6 30 pm 2. PUBLIC COMMENT Carlisle parent,Lindy Jaquith, expressed concerns over a staffing change in shop that she perceived had a negative impact on her child, and that parents were never informed She noted discussions with administrators, and suggested that she may need to transfer her student for a better learning match She noted that the lack of communication was disappointing Her complete statement can be found as Attachment A. Concern was raised about what to do about the expressed concerns, and it was noted that it is customary not to respond to items brought forth in Public Comment,but that the item will be referred by the Chair to the Supenntendent 3. EXECUTIVE SESSION The following vote was then taken to enter Executive Session at 6 40 pm ACTION 2012 #176 Moved(Stulin)and seconded(Hunter) To enter Executive Session pursuant to MGL c 30A, s 22 (f)to review, amend, finalize, and approve minutes from Executive Session of the Committee held on 9 18 12,9 27 12, and 10 3 12, and to determine whether continued non-disclosure of such minutes is appropriate Manjarrez yes Taschioglou yes Farmer yes Morrissette yes Mahoney yes Hunter yes DeLuca yes Weis yes Stulm yes Horton yes Flood yes Castagno yes Vote. Unanimous ACTION 2012 #177 Moved(Stulm)and seconded(Hunter) To allow Ms Rozan to remain Castagno yes Flood yes Horton yes Stulm yes Weis yes DeLuca yes Hunter yes Mahoney yes Morrissette yes Farmer yes Taschioglou yes Maniarrez yes Vote: Unanimous At the close of the Executive Session,the Committee resumed Open Session at 7 40 pm 4. BUDGET REPORT,Jeff Stulzn a. Budget Timeline Process The timeline for the FY 13 Budget process was reviewed briefly b Budget Transfer Miscellaneous Contract Items It was explained that two budget transfers were required, and that two votes were needed, as shown in Attachment C A motion was made(Castagno) and seconded(Weis)that the School Committee approve a transfer of$12,500 from Electricity, Operation Utility account to Mise-contracted School Committee account to cover unanticipated accounting services The reason for the unanticipated services was requested, and it was noted that the services were pertaining to matters discussed in Executive Session Adding the reason to the motion was then made as an amendment to the motion(Manjarrez) and seconded(Castagno) It was explained that the amendment was being offered because it was a transfer of funds in excess of$5,000, and it is helpful to have a reason in case the towns asks for it Extensive discussion related to clarifying the reason for the transfer without disclosing the matters discussed in Executive Session ensued Whether this would open up the confidentiality issue too much vs whether it should be there for clarity was debated It was pointed out that the Open Session minutes are littered with references to the reason,to the extent it can properly be stated under the Open Meeting Law Questions regarding past lapses in discretion in the past and consideration for the School's potential liability were among the issues raised. It was also suggested that the words"Executive Session"imply that further details can't be discussed in Open Session It was emphasized that if questions are posed to Committee members,the appropriate response is that Executive Session matters cannot be discussed It was further suggested that town officials do understand what that means,that leaving out any explanation may open the door to speculation, and that being upfront avoids the potential for OML violations A motion was then made (Manjarrez)to move the question and end debate, and the following votes were taken ACTION 2012 #178 Moved(Mani arrez) and seconded(Castagano) To move the question and end debate Vote: 11 in favor, 1 opposed ACTION 2012 #179 Moved(Manjarrez) and seconded(Castagno) To amend the main motion on the budget transfer to include the words "pertaining to matters discussed in Executive Session" Vote: 8 in favor,4 opposed A vote on the main motion as amended was then taken as follows ACTION 2012 #180 Moved(Castagno)and seconded(Weis) That the School Committee approve a transfer of$12,500 from Electricity, Operation Utility account to Misc-contracted School Committee account to cover unanticipated accounting services,pertaining to matters discussed in Executive Session Vote: 11 in favor, 1 opposed c. Budget Transfer. Legal Fees The second required vote was explained, and a motion was made(Stulin) and seconded(Weis) that the School Committee approve a transfer of$30,000 from Misc-Contracted Business Office account to Legal Fees, School Committee account to cover School Committee legal services pertaining to matters discussed in Executive Session It was explained that$45,000 is allocated for district legal fees, $3,000 for School Committee,for a total of$48,000 The vote would be adding$30,000 to this, for a total of $78,000 in this line item, and that there may be a need for more later It was pointed out that from an accounting point of view specifying that the transferred funds were exclusively for matters discussed in Executive Session could hinder bill payment procedures The motion was then withdrawn,and an alternate motion was made(Stulm) and seconded(Weis) as follows. that the School Committee approve a transfer of$30,000 from Misc-Contracted Business Office account to Legal Fees, School Committee account An amendment was offered(Manjarrez) and seconded(Castagno)to add the phrase"pertaining to matters discussed in Executive Session" back in It was explained that legal bills are reviewed as part of the warrant review process ACTION 2012#181 Moved(Mornssette)and seconded(Hunter) To move the question and end debate Vote• 7 in favor, 5 opposed (The motion did not carry as 2/3 (8)in favor was necessary) It was suggested that the Attorney be asked to notate the bills as related to Executive Session matters How the $30K has been allocated, the value of this additional step,the specificity of State law, that hands will be tied in the Business Office as the staff are not privy to Executive Session matters, and defemng to the expertise of professional staff were raised The following vote was then taken on the amendment ACTION 2012#182 Moved(Manjarrez) and seconded(Castagno) To amend the motion to add the phrase"pertaining to matters discussed in Executive Session" Vote• 1 in favor,9 opposed, 1 abstention(with 1 person out of the room) As the amendment did not carry,the following vote was then taken on the main motion ACTION 2012#183 Moved(Stulin) and seconded(Weis) That the School Committee approve a transfer of$30,000 from Misc-Contracted Business Office account to Legal Fees, School Committee account to cover School Committee legal services Vote: 9 in favor,2 opposed(with 1 person out of the room) 5. POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION It was explained that there was no need for an additional Executive Session, and that this had been put on the agenda, as a contingency, if needed Ms Castagno left the meeting at 8 20 pm 6. SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUSINESS a. Review of Open Session Minutes from 9.18.12,9.27.12, and 10.3.12, Carrie Flood and Dave Horton Open Session Minutes 9 18 12 A motion was made (Weis)and seconded(Hunter)to approve the Open Session minutes of 9 18 12 One amendment was offered(8 d)to clarify that a statement paraphrased in the draft minutes represented an individual opinion and was not a statement of fact,as the draft language might imply It was suggested that discrepancies could be checked against the video of the meeting, and it was noted that this was not done It was clarified that the minutes are not a verbatim account of the meeting,but rather a summary It was suggested that if anyone is not happy about the way the minutes are done, suggestions can be made to the Policy Subcommittee for a revision of the relevant policy Reference was made to attempts to rewrite history which could be resolved by viewing the tape. The following vote was then taken. ACTION 2012 #184 Moved(Weis) and seconded(Stulin) To amend item 8 d of the 9 18 12 Open Session minutes as discussed Vote: 8 in favor, 1 opposed,2 abstentions(with 11 members present) ACTION 2012#185 Moved(Weis) and seconded(Hunter) To approve the Open Session minutes of 9 18 12 as amended Vote: 8 in favor, 1 opposed,2 abstentions Open Session Minutes 9 27 12 The following action was taken on this set of minutes ACTION 2012#186 Moved(Stulin)and seconded(DeLuca) To approve the Open Session Minutes of 9 27 12 as presented Vote: 8 in favor, 1 opposed,2 abstentions Open Session Minutes 10.3.12 The following action was taken on this set of minutes ACTION 2012#187 Moved(Stulm)and seconded(DeLuca) To approve the Open Session minutes of 10 3 12 as presented Vote. 9 in favor,2 abstentions 7. NEW BUSINESS In response to a question,it was clarified that there was no word yet on the status of the Regionalization Grant 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business,the following vote was taken. ACTION 2012 #188 Moved(Stulin)and seconded(Hunter) To adjourn the meeting at 8 31 pm Vote: Unanimous Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Rozan Came Flood District School Committee Assistant Secretary ATTACHMENTS TO MINUTES 10 23 12 A Public Comment Lindy Jaquith, Carlisle Parent B Minuteman Finance Timeline for Fiscal Year 2013 C Budget Transfer Detail