 That'd be great. I'll crack my whip So we're recording so we're ready to start I'm ready to To call us to order And I have to actually stop for a second. I'll be right there Sorry noise reduction I'm ready to call the meeting the June 3rd meeting of governance organization legislation to order. We have a quorum. It's 1032 according to my watch Pursuant to governor Baker's March 12 2020 orders suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law this meeting of GL is being conducted by remote participation and we are being recorded You have an agenda in your packet and our first item of business and I'm planning to pretty much follow it today is The a pollinator protection resolution, but I don't see John root present at the moment the other sponsor is Darcy Dumont and We can hold off on this for a few minutes and go to the zoning bylaw. It's really your call Darcy. Do you want to Why don't we just wait and see if John shows up I just texted him I did talk to him yesterday and he said he was coming so I'm Figuring out the zone Okay. Yeah, that can be a challenge. Okay, so then we're gonna hold off on to and come back to it As soon as John appears the third the next item item number three is the zoning bylaw article 14 Temporary zoning and we need to review this and decide whether it is clear consistent and actionable so Lynn I think you're the producer if that's possible if you could I am just give me that's fine There's no rush. Do you want the temporary zoning bylaw or do you want to propose a plan by Paul? We may end up talking about both but I thought that our focus would be on the actual bylaw Which is the one that Bard Joel Bard has made a few very slight changes a bard Yeah, so you should have his name in it and is this it? No, that is we'll come to that later in the meeting. Let me see if I can Needled in the packet at temporary zoning dash text reviewed by attorney Jay Bard. Thank you. Thank you, man Yep That looks like That's it right there temporary zoning text reviewed That's it five twenty seven twenty Okay, okay, so we have it up on our screen and I assume everyone has had a chance to look at it And so I'm going to open the floor to Comment or discussion of this bylaw Do you have any? Concerns also. Let me make sure I can see and There we go So I'll give you a moment if you want to take to read to look at it once again Does anybody know if there's any adjustments based on the governor's release yesterday? Of this bylaw that would be needed Yeah, Mandy Joe has her hand up Mandy. Go ahead. I wasn't going to say about that. I did ask Paul Yesterday as chair of CRC whether he still intended to go forward with this article And the answer was yes, it does cover more than just outdoor dining Which would make it important to continue to Pursue because it's not just and the governor's order. I believe was just outdoor dining I would say the attorney has reviewed it I Would be hesitant to be changing any language After that review That was one question I had which I think managed just answered I think Lynn was alluding to whether the governor's order made this Really moot but the answer seems to be it doesn't and We've had the attorney look at it. We've already seen it once before So if there is no further comment or discussion I'm ready to entertain a motion All right The only thing I want to do is make sure that it's formatted better than it is right now Okay Right now you've got a word document with sentences that stop here and then should start here again Your word document doesn't show up how mine does when I open it. Okay, that may be in this just may be the way It's in the packet When I open the packet one, I don't get that same formatting Should we say anywhere and consistent with the governor's? whatever order that That doesn't seem necessary for me because we're we're consistent with this order, but we were also adding some things so Go ahead Mandy. I would say we can't override the governor's order So if this is inconsistent the governor's order would Overwrite it So I I wouldn't worry about that Better argument than mine. Thanks. I would note that at some point we're going to have to add a date to this But the date would be added when we pass it in the council so so that date If we do the emergency passage the date would be June 16th Because that's a mandate would aim for it's up at the top Yeah, it's yeah of the paragraph the first paragraph the very last thing just has capital less Word in the paragraph there How's that great because that's essentially the effective date Okay, so what do you do the motions for clearing consistent? I can make a motion if George wants Mandy go ahead, please. I'll move to declare the proposed zoning by-law amendment Article 14 temporary zoning clear consistent and actionable second All right, we have a motion that's been seconded And I any more discussion. I don't see any hands So I'm going to move immediately to a vote roll call vote and Pat yes Mandy yes, Lynn. Yes chair is a yes, Andy Yes, all right. The boat is unanimous 5-0 Declaring this by-law to be clear consistent actionable. We do need to make a change to the date Is that something I should see to before I send it on to or I can speak to the Council clerk but Manager I would say okay. All right good So that is that George the other thing Before this is the by-law that will be at your hearing right Mandy Joe. Yes, I Just think we need to make sure it is checked against the governor's orders. I Can ask that at the hearing again the governor's orders are overriding any zoning by-laws that are in place. That's what they do. I See, okay. All right. So if it's slightly inconsistent the governor's orders will override it Now I was just trying to have it be consistent with whatever the governor's orders are Well, they will override this for outdoor dining anyway At least until November 20th or whatever date his order is in effect till it's only November and this one would be in effect longer right All right, um, I Still do not see Mr. Root He is here. He's on the phone. Okay. He's on the phone. I see the Fendi. Okay. I Will bring him into the room. Thank you. That'd be great Um Actually, I cannot bring him into the room as host you should be able to Huh as host you should be able to I know all it says is I can allow him to talk or I can rename or removing Not promote to panelist. That's right. First thing is because he came in by phone Hmm, maybe if you just allow him to talk that'll be good enough Okay, okay Yes, yes we can John Yes We are about to Take up this item. So your timing is excellent And I think it's a really a question I'm gonna ask Lynn who's our producer to put this up on the screen You're on the phone. So you'll be able to see it. You you know it very well, but right We'll have a copy of it in front of them and I'm gonna ask you or Darcy or both of you to briefly speak to the resolution And then if they're right from the committee members, I may ask you or enter the answer so It's maybe John if you'd like to begin just talk briefly about the resolution certainly Well, I think I'm probably preaching to the choir when I mentioned the fact that Populations of all species animal and plant species birds insects and the like are plummeting drastically and the two of course are connected because bird populations are dependent on Insects for food and so the the causes of these rapid declines are Include the reduction in habitat and use of pesticides and global warming is certainly one of them and so the the purpose of these resolutions that several other towns have several other municipalities have passed in Western Massachusetts is to do what we can to Turn this around and and make our municipally owned property Be part of the solution and also serve as an example to other residents other property owners Good Darcy, do you have anything that you would like to add I? Guess I would just second John's suggestion that this is an opportunity again for Amherst to to lead in in an area that is In actually not controversial at all and which would be which would be an area of two for us to take leadership, so I support it wholeheartedly and John didn't mention that that there are a number of local organizations that have I've endorsed it. So would you mind just mentioning that John? League of Women Voters is certainly a stalwart ally His cock set it for the environment. Likewise both the Agricultural Commission and the Conservation Commission have endorsed the resolution Climate Action now is a supporter Graduate student unit has endorsed the resolution a couple of different local farms also behind the effort and So everyone virtually everyone I've spoken with that says certainly this is something. This is an important thing to do Good that that is something I think important to note Certainly in any kind of public presentation and certainly help sure no, but thank you. Yeah. Yeah Committee I'm sorry. Andy is his hand up, but Darcy did something you want to add I just wanted to point out the fact that if you scroll down to the bottom You'll see that that John added Is there more here There's he has footnotes citations to every single one of those wear as statements So I I warned him about this committee that you don't want He he actually homework he has he collected the data To make sure that you knew that all of those statements were factual Thank you Andy you have your hand up Yeah first of all Thank You John and Darcy for bringing this forward, but the question that I had was To the paragraph that's actually on the screen now to be it further resolved question Because it is asking it is sort of saying that the town of Amherst is going to set an example and I Was curious whether Any inquiry has been made of appropriate town staff and Departments as to whether these are practices that are already in place Or whether there would be any changed practices that would be required just so that That's an excellent question. I have spoken with Alan snow If you indicated that yes, sometimes in rare cases the chemicals are used and But I haven't I haven't done a thorough Survey I mean there are different parts of town different agencies in in town that would be responsible for different locations And so I have not I can't tell you what For example mowing practices is is one low cost or even a means of saving saving money To just mow less often and that's been demonstrated to have a significant impact on Native bee populations because that allows those small flowers to pop up in lawn to provide sustenance for those native bees So that would be one thing that one of the first things that I would want to look at is What are mowing practices can can that and and certainly? you know Chasing from the paradigm of we want a nice Monoculture lawn to one that it's called a b-lawn in which these flowers are permitted to To flourish okay And your hands still up, but I think that's residual, but if it isn't please go ahead Take it down, but The other thing I was just gonna say is that the importance of the support from the Agriculture Commission Speak because they speak on behalf of the agriculture community Think it's a very important statement. Mm-hmm, right. I was concerned that we Say that we're leading by example and if we're gonna say we're leading by example, I want to make sure that we can lead by example Right Mandy your hand is up. Please go ahead. Yeah, I I have a similar concern I have one thing that's more just um clerical but but my biggest concern as we look at Clarity consistency and action ability is the action ability part of that be it for the resolve section that Andy was talking about As the town council were the chief policy setters in town So I have a couple of concerns about this paragraph one is it appears to be adopting a policy And so from the council point of view is this the way we want to adopt policies in Resolutions or do we want to adopt policies in something that actually says policy on blah? And so that's one concern and then the next concern goes to Andy You know, it says the town of Amherst will set an example by adopting the policy friend friendly practices below and then it encourages town departments To adopt those practices, but by the council Potentially adopting this resolution doesn't that Implicate that the town departments must Adopt it and then at the top it says it's non-binding. So I've got real concerns about What in practice this would actually do and whether if it is binding and it would be adopting These practices that it sounds like Some of our town departments would actually have to change their their practice if we did Do want to say that I'm happy to hear that the concom and the ag com have Supported it because that as Andy said that then I just before Alan responds I just want to talk about the last be it further resolved Which actually wasn't to be it further resolved It was the town clerk is requested to send copies in the past. We've done that as they be it further resolved And so I would just seek language changes of that and I can go through that later If we're looking to vote on this today to what those language changes would be to make it consistent with prior Resolutions that have sought to send things to the state Good Alan if you'd like to respond go ahead My name is John John Ruth, I'm sorry John. Yeah, there's an Alan root out there, too So yes, I I wanted to point out that we are because it's a non-binding resolution and also it's purposefully Not prescriptive. In other words, we're not saying you may not ever use chemicals for for treatment. Yes as pesticides. It's You know, do your best basically is the message to limit their use There in other municipalities, there have been resolutions passed that are binding that, for example, the banning of glyphosate. That's not what we're doing here. We're saying, please, you know, Make every attempt and that that would that these chemicals would be last resort. So that there would be no one standard that would one size fits all for all the Agencies every one of them would be asked to do their part and hopefully That might even be turn out to be something better than if we had tried to be prescriptive. In other words, the different agencies might be sharing their ideas and the research that comes out. As as the years go by would would be pointing in the direction of what those best practices are. So it could be You know, a kind of a nimble process. But many makes the point policy versus a resolution and this seems to be more in the nature, if I'm understanding you in the nature of a resolution. Exactly. It's a call in a resolution. Right. Right. So I wonder what one suggestion comes to my mind right away is under be it further resolved that the town of Amherst Will set an example by seeking to adopt That's only for you to consider but that suggestion would perhaps if Mandy agrees would address her concern. In other words, we are not mandating language at the moment. Seems to least read one way would seem to say to the town departments. You need to do this because we're saying you will set an example by adopting if we say you will set an example by seeking to adopt. That's one suggestion it maintains the idea of a resolution and doesn't have a problem of consistency or clarity, which are that's what we're looking at here. We are just okay that this be clear consistent. Or just okay that this be clear consistent and actionable. And that's the three issues that we focus on. So that's something for you to want to let Pat speak. She has her hand up with John ponder that and we'll come back to it. Pat. Um, I would like I agree with the seeking if we keep it a resolution. I would like to see it become policy. And if we think about integrated pest management. That should be something that all our departments are involved in for a variety of reasons, one In order to save pollinate pollinators, etc. But also to save the town money in terms of one not mowing but also not scheduling Insecticide use on a calendar basis, but doing it when there is need and really trying to seek natural balance. So I would like to see this become policy. One thought I have that immediately Pat is that from the view of action ability. A concern I would have perhaps others would have is would be have the sponsors actually sat down and spoken to The department head through department the individuals in the town staff who would be mandated to do these things and get their input. So that would be if we're going to policy that would be a concern I would have now whether that's Relevant to our task as GL is another question, but it would refer to me that a policy statement is mandating something I'd be very uncomfortable as a counselor. Approving a policy statement where we haven't had at least some kind of conversation with the town department's Individuals affected by what the policy we're planning to impose upon them. So are you suggesting Pat that you'd like to see this change today. I know I would like to see this resolution go through. But to ask the sponsors and other counselors to begin to work on creating the policy that we need in town. So it we eventually become more than Kind of requesting people to do it that we're really looking at town practices. We can't legislate. I don't think. Well, I don't know. I would like to mean or that this move forward. It isn't just, okay, we have this great resolution and then nothing happens when one comment I'd like to make about that is that I think that we're probably all I think that the research will will show that We may not be perfectly pesticide free but it almost perfectly and that the the main Thrust of Might be to establish and, you know, do maintenance that that that encourages pollinate, you know, creating pollinator habitat and and there are many different ways to do that. And I'm not sure what the regulations would be to say, you know, what percentage of your land should be pollinator habitat or what would constitute pollinator habitat that that might be difficult to legislate. And that's just a thought. Mm hmm. Andy. So I was looking at it again and because the question about mowing was is sort of alluded to in a whereas clause, but in the be it further resolve clause, there is no mention of mowing and so I was trying to Figure out where the connect was in there and the other knowing A major problem, because one of the other things that we're concerned about which I'd like to hear more from the Board of Health on is whether the question of mosquito control and West Nile is affected by Choices on mowing height and Yeah, there is no there is no impact on that. And the other is Well, I'd like to hear from the Board of Health on that too. The point I was making because that's their role. And the other is the safety for athletic fields and play areas that Where does where does the height of mowing fit in on there. So I did think about that, but then that whereas clause really is talking about use of chemicals and not Mowing George Kennedy. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Joe and then I Can talk. She hasn't talked yet. Please land go ahead. I want to pick up. First of all, I totally support The concept here. I want to make sure we don't confuse Resolutions with making policy. And so That's what concerns me, but I want to go to Andy's Immediate point about mowing For example, we just moved the farmers market to the town comic when we were there last Saturday It had not been mowed and you know some beautiful clover and stuff like that, but there was also a man with a walker And he was regularly on the verge of falling down because the lawn had not been mowed. So there's some times where One thing might be in conflict with another and I want to recognize that There's never mind Oh, okay. I'm sorry. That's all right. Mandy Mandy Yeah, so I think the proposal sort of proposed by George might allow me to vote that this is clear if we add the seeking language That's the actual word I was thinking about to somewhere in that resolved clause putting the word seek because adopt is so strong Whereas seeking to adopt is hey, maybe you know it doesn't it Makes it consistent with the non binding part that I feel like adopting doesn't make it consistent with and confuses policy versus guidance maybe so I just wanted to say if we can get you know by seeking to adopt in that be further it you know that be it further resolved that's sort of the second resolved one and then Make some other changes. There's there's just one other clerical one the last where I should end in a period not a semicolon and then that that last one then I think I could get to voting it clear consistent and actionable Okay Darcy Yeah, I just I probably should have said this before I did have a brief conversation with the town manager about this and And asked him if he thought there were any issues and he said that it wasn't really necessary to Discuss it because it was a resolution and the nature of resolutions were adjusted Rather than mandates and so that was his response at my last meeting with him when I just just brought it up briefly. Okay I'm trying to call this up on my computer just so I can note the changes that are being suggested but We need to hear from the sponsors at some point if they're comfortable with these changes but normally what we do is we As we're doing we have this conversation and changes are sometimes suggested by the committee and if the sponsors are willing to make those changes Then we would vote on that document If they're not and they're perfectly willing to say no then we would proceed with our usual Process which could conceivably lead to a vote not to recommend not because we don't necessarily support this which I think in fact all of us do Because we do have concerns of consistency clarity or action ability because that's all we talk that's our mandate The larger issue where this is a good idea bad idea whether it should be policy blah blah blah that is something the council Discusses or it's discussed at another committee perhaps CRC, but here though these things sometimes do come up It's difficult to keep them all out of this discussion Our task is to simply declare this clear consistent actionable and what I've heard so far is A recommendation a slight change of wording in the Further resolve clause I've heard a suggestion. There's a punctuation change that needs to be made and I've heard a also just again a technical point by Mandy that At the end we should have a whereas Excuse me be it further resolved to introduce the town clerk Request those are the three that I've heard so far one a change in wording which is somewhat substantial and then the other two I think are just minor scrivener type changes Am I missing any changes that have been proposed before we actually ask our sponsors to weigh in am I missing any other changes I see Mandy your hand is up again I just thought I'd read what I would have the last paragraph say so that The one that starts right now the town clerk is requested I would rewrite to read be it further resolved That the clerk of the Amherst town council shall cause a copy of this resolution to be sent to Governor Charlie Baker Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lobo state senator Josephine Comaford and state representative Mindy Dom period Okay, again Mandy be it further resolved that the town clerk I just missed that that the clerk of the Amherst town council they're the only person we can direct The clerk of the Amherst town council shall cause a copy Thank you shall cause A copy And then of this resolution to be sent right thank you and then it's the list and the list ends then at Mindy Dom And drop or to take any other action relative there to correct Okay So be it further resolved that the clerk of the Amherst town council shall cause a copy of this resolution to be sent to Governor Charlie Baker. Is that correct? Yes, that's why I'm asking you And I'm sorry I can't put it on the screen because it will be my technological abilities are past GOL chairs have been a little bit more adept but that good. I have that wording Any other changes I see Darcy your hand is up before I recognize you. I wanted to I'm sorry That's residual as Evan would say Right. Okay. Sorry Again We've now noted three specific changes And I want to go through those punctuation is where Mandy The last whereas clause would be a period should be a period. All right and We were going to change and I'm not we're still going to come back to our sponsors But we're going to change in the first therefore be it resolved by this town council that the town of Amherst I'm sorry in second resolved that the town of Amherst will No, well set an example by seeking to adopt upon a friendly practical Those are the three changes that I am Aware of in discussion anyone else see anything or want to make any other suggestion I see no hands. Ah, well good night. I will turn if I don't see any of my colleagues on the committee I will turn to the sponsors for their thoughts on these suggestions So Darcy Change and courage to encouraging and be it further resolved and also I just want to check in with John about if he's okay with Seeking to adopt John so good changing to encouraging Are you there John he's still listed. Yes he is Hello, yeah, John just Want your want your input the sound is coming in and going the sound is going out and coming back in again Ouch Hello, yes, okay. Yes. Yeah Yes, there's a deception in the in the sound for a minute there. Yes. I'm I'm amenable Yes, I'm amenable to those changes Okay That's good. Hello. Yes, we hear you John. Can you hear me? Yes. Hello? I will go with his We can hear you. I lost this I lost the sound again. Yeah, he's yeah But we can hear you heard me say that I was amenable to the changes. Yeah. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes All right, so we have three specific changes been made. Okay, and they're on the I'm looking at three different screens here. It's getting a little fun. Um Any questions about those changes from my committee I Have one because I don't think I heard Darcy it in the first therefore be it resolved. I Think it's in the second Encourage I guess it was the encourage language. I think Lynn's got it highlighted there I think encourages is the correct verb. Yeah, no, I'm looking at the second be it further resolved because It says by adopting To change it to the town of Amherst will encourage the adoption of I guess what's the language you were looking at I'm saying in the second Be it further resolved where it says we'll set an example by adopting the pollinator friendly practices below and Encouraging Oh It's just a grammar. It's just great. Yeah. No, I didn't see that encouraged So I was just confused about the first I was looking at the first be it resolved and I was like that That doesn't go to encouraging so okay now it makes sense. Yeah, I just miss one Mandy. I missed one Okay Any other Comments concerns Changes We have the sponsors agreeing to the three changes we've made We have agreed that this is a resolution I think it does raise the question for the sponsors, which I'm sure they're very well aware of What's the follow-through to this and there may very well be a discussion at the council meeting? Or and certainly our sponsors may also be working on this on their own as to how to turn this into policy but what we are here endorsing are about to endorse if when we vote is a Resolution that is essentially encouraging The town council is encouraging these practices and a number of them are listed And I would assume also that that I don't know if we'd invite John To speak at the council meeting. I know that's an issue for the council president, so I'm not even going to go there, but So that's where we're at so I'm ready to entertain a motion on this resolution Unless I don't see any hands. I don't see any hands waving So if someone is willing to make the resolution or make the motion I would entertain it Right loud to do that or do you want you can I'm afraid But you can cheer I'll make it I moved to declare the town of Amherst pollinator protection resolution as amended Clear consistent and actionable second Okay, do we want to add the date or doesn't matter as amended on this date as amended on june 3rd 2020 Thank you, Mandy. Okay um to be clear this is an actual and that was Motion was made by Mandy seconded by Pat I see no hands up. So I'm moving directly to a vote this time. I will try to do it in alphabetical order Pat Yes, uh, Lynn Yes Mandy Yes The chair is a yes and Andy Yes All right, so the vote again is unanimous 5-0 declaring the town of Amherst pollinator protection resolution as amended on this date to be clear consistent and actionable John thank you very much We heard you I'm sorry Yes, thank you And Darcy is her hand up, please. Yeah, I just wondered if uh, Lynn has any idea when that would come up on the town council agenda We're actually Done with it in all of the committees. Uh, it could come up as early as the 15th Great, did you hear that John? 15th As early as okay, great. Thanks so much committee Okay, thank you, and and we would make sure that you're aware of when it does come before the council Right Okay, I appreciate it. All right John. Thank you. All right Thank you Item number four on our agenda is the continued review of the gel process to fill Up cupping vacancy for non voting member of the finance committee um And so you have that document in front of you on the screen And my understanding which is open to being corrected is that we have made our way through numbers one two three four On this document I'm a little less clear on five so we might want to begin there, but you can correct me It may be that our discussion last time everyone's satisfied with five statement of interest Six definitely needs to be looked at as I mentioned in my Email to you all I'm basically rewrote this and this is open to total revision. It's just what I Put forward and based on our discussion But I think there's some things added here that you may not all be agree in agreement with So item six interviews and then seven gel. So I would hope that this morning we can get through this Starting I'm going to start with six unless there's concerns about five Um, and then we'll go to seven And then we'll look at the entire document one last time and then I'd like us to hopefully today have a vote Up or down on this as our process and then I'd read, you know, I'd rewrite the title page. So it is actually us not ok But first of all are people ready to start with six or would you like to go back over five? Or is there anything in the document up through five that you have still have concerns about? I see mandy's hand is up mandy go ahead Uh, just in five I was rereading it. Um, and I have one concern I think we can just add a clause that takes care of it It says right now that applicant statement shall shall be typed and submitted as an ms word document or pdf directly to the chair That does not seem to accommodate those that may not have access to computers or those that might have some sort of disability Um, so maybe a clause that says, you know PDF shall be submitted, you know typed and submitted something unless An accommodation is made or is agreed upon or something something that that allows for a different method if necessary because of whatever circumstances Okay thoughts on that for my colleagues Do people feel it's something that needs to be added and if so what would be the appropriate wording? um, it could be something as simple as unless as mandy suggested unless um, some other accommodation is needed. I don't know how to quite word it, but um Obviously we're trying to Pretty much make sure that everybody follows this specific format But there might be a case where as mandy described, that's just not possible We certainly don't want someone to be excluded From consideration just because they can't get access to a computer for whatever reason Though in this day and age one wonders how anyone could function on any committee Certainly with this town where you don't have some kind of computer computer access Any thoughts on this people think it's necessary if it's necessary What wording would you like to insert? I'm fine with the wording that was suggested So mandy, you want to just give it to me one last time unless something like unless accommodation is needed So I think it would be something like applicant statements of interest shall be typed and So the word and between typed and submitted so typed and submitted as an ms word document or pdf directly to the gl chair or designee unless Other accommodations Are reached and shall not exceed 700 words in length No matter what it can't exceed 700 words in length. That's why I put the unless separate sentence if um, I've got something to the effect that if um What access I don't know. I mean you don't want to think of all the possible objection. That's why I say unless unless Unless The gl chair Agrees otherwise or something. I'm just wondering if we if this may not be permissible But simply to to let common sense rule that obviously if you have someone who for some unusual reason simply can't meet this requirement that We would just assume the chair we or the designee would be a commonsensical find us a commonsensical solution Um, do people feel that's not adequate or Um, I mean, I'm just envisioning a world in which a chair or designee would simply say to someone who has a legitimate problem Oh, no, then if you can't give us an ms word, whatever. We're not going to consider you. I just think that would be I'm wondering if just leaving it as it is and trusting to just common sense is adequate I always think it's best to express accommodations You think it does I think we should express them because someone reading this that can't follow that might be turned away I'm looking off our policy on the publication of candidate statements because we ran into this problem there Good. Good. Because that one we were submitting like only in online or something Okay When I'm hearing I'm let Mandy is going to pursue this for a second. What I'm hearing is at least two committee members Sympathetic to the idea that we need to make some kind of statement and so we can find something If we want to vote on it today, I'd like us to find today, but if not, we can postpone it but We need some kind of statement In in our policy on the publication of candidate statements We we use the word alternatively if a person filing nomination papers asks to submit a candidate statement in paper form You provide it to do so. So that doesn't help us as much as I hoped it would yeah Because we're really, you know expecting that this would be a very unusual circumstance where someone simply is not able to Is opposed to simply doesn't want to bother And so just wants to write something down on a piece of paper and send it to us We're trying to prevent that. So again, that's where discretion comes into it and common sense I think any competent chair designee of this committee be able to tell the difference between someone who But I hear Lynn's point that the way it's written at the moment We might scare someone off And we don't want to do that. So You could say something like if special accommodations are necessary you should reach out to the chair. I don't know Without getting into the details or if this Unless other accommodations are required and leave it at that Okay, and here's one I came up with Splitting the sentence into two sentences yeah Applicant statements of interest shall be typed and submitted as MS word document or PDF directly to the gel chair or designee Unless accommodations are reached with the chair for other means of submission Okay And then statements of interest interest shall not exceed 700 word making that a separate sentence. That's it So again, Mandy give me that clause unless Unless accommodations are reached with the chair for other means of submission. Thank you Okay I'm going to read that back to you, but I think I've got it unless accommodations are reached with the chair For other means of submission period Then a new sentence Statements of interest shall not exceed Yeah, and then there would be an and between shall be typed And submitted. Yes, and get rid of the comma. Right. I got thank you. Good got that All right Unless I hear objections, I'm going to consider that consensus And certainly speak up if you do or do you see any other changes you'd like to make in section five I don't see any hands at the moment. We can come back to this as I said, we will come back to the entire document Hopefully at the end of this session So I want to move to six then to interviews because this does I think raise some Controversial issues or potentially controversial issues. I wrote it as obviously as a suggestion So I can read it out in full people want to hear it one one last time but Or people have some comments they want to make right away um I mean the second sentence right away raises a question whether you agree with my understanding of the purpose of the interviews Because here it states the purpose of the interviews is to give the committee a chance to meet candidates and to ask them follow-up questions Mandy is your hand up Yeah, so I actually liked this Um having been someone that wasn't in favor of interviews. I'm mostly okay with this. I had one Requested change. Um, it was in the second to last sentence All committee members shall be given the opportunity to ask one question and a follow-up question I would add the cause of each candidate. Um, I I don't think we need I'm not in favor of having to ask all the candidates the exact same question I agree. I mean So I thought that clause might clear it up that they don't have to be the same question And also the understanding and writing this that I had was if you don't have a question, you don't have to ask one I mean It's not a it's not a dog and pony show if you Right If you really satisfied with the so I And I seem you could ask your question on the spur of the moment as well The the logic here was to try and keep it from becoming We'd be at it for hours Try to prevent an individual committee member from just, you know pursuing something on and on and on I don't think that necessarily would happen very likely, but it could so we try to keep some control over time Was the only purpose But also make sure everyone has a chance if they wish to ask a question and a follow-up question right Okay Also, it makes the point that failure. These are optional interviews That's something I'd like to hear some comment from or if maybe you all agree that if someone says I just don't I don't care Or someone says I can't make that meeting And that's a concern we've had in other Other iterations of this kind of interview thing You know, what if they can't make it What I'm suggesting again, this is my thought is that interviews be conducted during regular meetings of the committee That we not have to do special meetings for interviews that interviews are simply part of the natural process and that we'd invite people to come to a regularly scheduled meeting of the committee and We would give them between 10 and I mean we'll decide this later But 10 15 20 minutes max and that we hopefully do them all at once That's what i'm thinking So but the point is that if they can't make it For scheduling reasons or they simply don't Want to or they just don't show up That we still would we have their statement of interest and that is sufficient these interviews are there For us to learn more about the candidates Hopefully but also for the candidates to ask questions if they have any But if they don't have any and they don't want to bother with the interview We're not going to use the interview as a You know means they can't they can't be considered Are people okay with that? I see andy's hand andy, please Yeah, I guess i'm not entirely comfortable with that just based on the experience of The last round of this and what it would occurred there and that is that thought one of the purposes of the interview is just to make sure that The person understand the time demand of the committee And that they were comfortable And could make that commitment to meet the time demand of the committee and I don't I don't see that there's an alternative the statement of interest doesn't give us To the answer to that question It's fairly basic quick and straightforward but if people declined to attend Then you can't ask that question and You know the example that I gave I think a prior meeting was that last time my real And the only concern was is the did the person Were they available during the height of the budget season? To attend a larger number of meetings there or is there something within their work or personal life? that made Meeting that increased demand during that budget season Particularly difficult for them and I I don't know how you get A response to that without having the interview process be required Unless we're going to go back up to The statement of interest and say the statement of interest needs to include and then put in That type of a clause there Many So that's actually what I was going to suggest our statement of interest or right now are supposed to respond to um Well, what skills and experiences they bring to the body that align with the adopted selection guidance So I was actually thinking we could just add a bullet point to the selection guidance that says availability during You know, I'd have Andy write it as chair of finance, but availability You know something about when they the bulk of the work needs to be done and that they need to be available during that But I thought we could add it just into the fourth bullet point in selection guidance Okay Because what happened last time was That I ended up having conversations with two of the three people who were the finalists in just uh our In because three names were being recommended at that time One of the three Never called me back. So it was impossible to have the conversation in advance. I did the conversation later And the other two said No, I understand that there's going to be potential of bi-weekly meetings likely during the month of may When which is the month Get under the normal Procedure which is not this year Uh, you would have the council reviewing the proposed budget and The other two said, oh, no, I understand that's not a problem. I can make that commitment And that was kind of the end so your concern Andy is that If it's not explicitly in some document We send them that we're hoping because they could just ignore it and not respond in the soi Which is certainly possible And they don't come to an interview if we don't make the interview mandatory We can't ask them that question And get a response That the risk is we'll end up appointing someone who when may comes around Says wait a minute. This is not what I signed up for There i'm not available for those meetings or and And I assume you would still go ahead and have the meetings Since they are non voting. I mean in other words, the point is these are non voting members And so their contribution is valuable and welcome But if they can't make a meeting That doesn't hinder the actions of the finance committee. You go ahead and have your meeting anyway I think that's that's going to happen But then they don't serve the purpose of being in the position that they're seeking to apply for In that we're making a decision to recommend to the council that they be seated at The Experience of the committee so far has been that The resident members have understood that and have been actively participating At key meetings Um One person this time is actually contacted me and said Is it okay if i'm not participating from amherst but i'm participating from another location. I said basically That's not a problem because uh, it doesn't matter where you are for doing zoom meetings. Right, right I don't see any hands up. I I will speak for a moment myself. I my feeling is between The the extensive process that we have in front of us And we assume that many though, perhaps not all people will actually Make available make themselves available for an interview Plus when we finally do come to our deliberations If we don't have anything Now again the so I would the easiest would be to change the so i um, and maybe while i'm babbling Um andy or mandy or someone could think of what i'd like to keep it very short and simple I when i'm afraid i'd like to keep the so i right now. I think it's very clear and very concise and anyone reading it Um, you know, it's because good guidance for what they should say in their statement If we add in some kind of further bullet point about may and having to be available for extensive meetings I understand the concern, but um I i'm just a little concerned it makes this thing a little bit more clunky a little bit more complicated Um, we really want them to talk about what they bring to this body and why they want to be on this body Um, and this is just a specific concern of availability um One also might argue that anyone who wants to serve on this body who does not understand That when a budget is being created in the final month or so before it's being presented it's crunch time if they don't understand that Why would they you know, it just I just wonder if we're overthinking this But I will take the guidance of the committee one would be change the so I put in a bullet point Another would be to make interviews mandatory We could do that That creates other issues in terms of scheduling and and so forth What we can deal with that if we have to so seems three options are presenting themselves to me one is Leave things as they are we can manage and someone who doesn't understand this At a fundamental level wanting to be on a committee like this shouldn't be on the committee anyway To change the so I so I just need to you know a phrase or a clause that we can all agree to Right Three would be making interviews mandatory How do people feel about those three options? we're putting in the selection guidance as availability for meetings at the Regular Times of I mean maybe it just has to be availability For participation at meetings and let them ask the question I don't know how else to say it unless we give them some Guidances to when the committee has met um, I actually thought about another thing as you were speaking and that is that my understanding From what happened when the question was asked of Darcy is to who did the interviews in the last round As to why some people didn't come forward who had been prior members of the finance committee and She just basically said one of the key questions was Are you available for daytime meetings since the committee regularly meets during the day? And a couple of people said No, I really would like to have evening meetings when the finance committee used to meet and That that was part of the thought process So I don't think that we're dealing something that was foreign to what happened last time Well, I'm hearing and others to speak up and apparently take time to think about this Including suggesting that we Deal with it next time, but I hope we can get through this thing today Good pat speak. Yeah, I was just Listening to Andy's talking about daytime meetings versus evening meetings. It seems to me whenever A committee is reformed that the possibility of change occurs So I think any person applying whether for a voting or a non-voting position would need to have some flexibility Um for daytime and evening. I don't think we need to add anything. I think that You as chair or whoever was chair of finance The in the this meeting and could make a general statement right at the beginning before any interview happens That this is a terrific time commitment, etc But if we don't interview is then That are required you you missed that that was where we started from I mean one option is simply to instruct the chair of GOL or wherever the designee would be In such a case to make sure that they reach out to individual and communicate to them The time commitment But again, that's cumbersome and it's it could change over time chairs come and go And if it's not written down in black and white It could get lost in a shuffle Again time commitment is something that that's subjective Um For some people the kinds of demands that finance makes they would not bat an eyelash at others would be, you know, aghast But um Committee like that. It's not the only committee that makes I mean Other bodies also make severe demands of time And I'm not aware at least with I'm thinking of planning board zba because that's those the ones that I've had the most experience with We just assume that people Right understand that these are demanding and uh And sometimes they don't work out some people sometimes show up on planning board to get it pointed to planning board zoning And they really don't do very good job I mean, I think it's hard to you can't stop you can't prevent everything. Um, and so Thoughts So I You could make interviews mandatory. Let's talk about that for a second. Are people comfortable with that? In other words, everyone has to Uh submit to an interview Then then it raises the question does it they all have to be done at the same time? Um, there will be public Um, we right. There are no private interviews. There's no interviews over the phone Um, I don't think anyone here is comfortable with that at least I'm not if we're going to interview people We're going to interview them in public. Um, they don't all have to be present I don't think we have to have everybody present when we do the interviews We can do them serially so we could say you're going to be at, you know 10 30 you're going to be at 10 40 you're going to be at 11 10 whatever and hopefully try to keep to that schedule Um, people are welcome to I mean it's public. They can always take around if they want Um, but um do we want to make it mandatory? Um, that would solve andy's problem because then um The opportunity would be there obviously for the representative of by the way Are you okay with having a representative of finance present now? It turns out at the moment we have a finance chair on this body, but in the future that won't be the case Um, I did suggest that we would invite a member of finance committee to be present for the interviews And they cannot ask a question of their own that maybe needs to be changed But um, they can answer questions Um, now since andy is a member of this committee can answer any ask any question he wants, but um The way it's worded at the moment, um is inviting a member of finance to attend the interview Um, but not asking questions of their own. Maybe that needs to be stricken. Maybe we just say we would invite and leave it at that I was exactly how you worded it You like the way it's worded Yeah, that's fine with it But that would mean that in the future if a member of finance were present And they wanted to ask that question. They couldn't Hopefully a member of the committee would ask that question, but they couldn't ask Oh, that's the concern I have at this point is that by saying, um, you know, so again, maybe we're overthinking this but Mandatory interviews people want to go that way because I'm george Please lindy A couple things first of all up here I think it needs to be a statement like consistently Available for meetings or something if somebody wants to work on parallel structure. That's that's fine. Okay Um, to be honest with you We can have them not be mandatory But I will already be biased if somebody doesn't show up for an interview unless they had a good reason not to Okay To me that makes a statement of I really, you know, not that interested Now if it turned out that they couldn't press be present because they told the chair They had a conflict that couldn't make that's that's a different issue Okay But if if the chair were to report to the committee that we have, you know of the five candidates say for example Only three are going to be interviewed And two simply never got back That would obviously impact you that information would be relevant to you All right Okay Mindy Joe has her hand up. Mandy, please I I don't want to make them interviews mandatory. Um, you know, I I don't know whether I'd be biased if someone didn't show up I think there's very good reasons since we would not be holding separate meetings for these that someone would not show up specifically conflicts or need to take off from work for something that's A non voting position. I don't think we should make it harder on someone to get onto the finance committee then Then it already sometimes is to serve this town We should be making it more open. So I I don't support making them mandatory. I'm okay with adding the bullet point To the selection guidance, however, andy thinks it needs to be worded Okay At the moment the assumption is that the interviews would all be done at one meeting But that is not necessarily the way this has to be read It simply says there will be interviews, but they're not mandatory. So it's possible that we could Do them over a series of meetings Um, I even possible we could even decide to have a special meeting if we wanted to um, we have flexibility but So if someone says I can't make this particular date Um, depending on what the schedule is we could perhaps say well, there's another possible date You could do it. Could you do that? We also would have the uh authority to say well, we can also declare a special meeting Of course, then it raises the issue of favoritism if you go out of your way to make accommodations for one person Um, but then another person just you just say well too bad That's not that's not very good optics. And I don't think we'd want to do that. So The simple the idea of making it just one particular meeting and if they can't make it that's it Gets rid of that problem Um What i'm hearing is bullet point added for selection guidance Otherwise people are um Except for the addition of of each candidate everyone is happy with the interview status section as it's written So, uh, lin is added of each candidate and highlighted it Um, my understanding is people are happy with so they're also happy with The line that says the Invited individuals will not be asking questions, but may respond to questions from either the candidates or the committee So I think all we need i'm again, you can interrupt or or raise the objection at any point But what i'm hearing is that all we need then is a bullet point for selection guidance that we all can agree on And um at that point We may be close to having this finished Um George please pat In terms of it being consistently available for meetings We might want to add particularly during the spring budgeting period or something like that We're doing Is that's when It is most critical So consistently available that's nicely put pat consistently available Go ahead during may and june Particularly i'd say particularly during may and june. Is that okay? That's fine with me Because obviously we'd assume they'd be available for meetings in general But this makes the point that andy's been trying to make Which may and june is crunch time and he would like that to be flagged So that um if someone so many at least can't say I didn't know about this Um, hopefully they'll come up in the interview But if we don't make the mandatory it's there in the SOI and they could Um, I mean, let's say if they wrote well, I can't do may and june will that be the end of their candidacy So, but it's here. So I like that consistently available for meetings particularly during may and june Can I suggest Given what we've learned this year at june say particularly during budgeting season. Yeah Okay Could we add though budgeting season which is generally may and june or something like that now we're getting into my concern I'd like to keep the bullet points about the same length. Um, that's the tail end. Write it out. That's okay Well, we'll rock this but um Mages my bias for classical form here, but um Is this available for meetings particularly normally in the spring because I don't know I don't care No, I was thinking about it and one of the things that seemed to make sense and that gets to the planning board too that uh Why are we not just saying Here are the dates in which the planning board has been has met during the last year And then let people react to that schedule one way or another and At least we'll know Well, the planning board process is a bit more detailed and there are very specific questions Unlike our process that we're envisioning where you can pretty much make up your own question For planning board the questions are decided upon in advance And one of them I believe does involve exactly that question. Um, are you comfortable with the time demands of this body? So the difference between what we're envisioning and what currently exists for planning board and zoning board As mandy's I think alluded to a number of times is that there really isn't there's the questions are written down and you can't change them And you can't ask a follow-up It's a very rigid format and there are reasons for that both good and bad. We're trying to avoid that. I hope we can um So that's right So what we've got here is a potential wording change to selection guidance That I hope will meet andy's concern um And I I have a little concern about wordiness, but I understand that you're trying to be as specific as possible um So consistently available for meetings particularly during budgeting season, which is normally may and june Okay Yes Andy's happy with that um I can live with it anybody else Fine with me. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So we have consensus for those changes to number four um We've made changes to statement of interest They're not They're not showing though. So let's I have them in my document, but I will compare it with linds. They're showing in the bullet over here on the right Oh, okay. All right. Good. I didn't realize I didn't realize how to do the track changes earlier Yeah They're doing a lot better than I am lind. Thank you very much. Um Miner scrolled in pink And only I can see them. It's not very useful to any of you except me And on the interviews we have of each candidate That's correct. That's the only change that we've made Okay, the last section section seven gl recommendations Um, what was added here? Actually, I'm not sure it was added is demographic In other words, the issue of demographic information on the overall applicant pool Is something that you want the chair to comment on when the final report is given to the council So that's what this addresses. So the name of the applicants Um, date of appointment reasons for recommendation and then Demographic information is part of what you're asking the chair to provide the council with Any concerns about seven? No, I'm going to, um Make a motion that we approve This Process Let me just get it. I've got so many things open on my screen If you could scroll to the top Lynn Um, I would like to make a motion that we approve um the gl process To recommend appointments of non-voting resident members of the finance committee appointed by the town council as revised on six three 20 Not a second So we have a motion. We have it seconded Any further discussion? I don't see any so I'm sorry Mandy. I apologize, please I just wonder whether we want to approve or adopt Um, I think adopt is a better word. Thank you For what we're trying to do. So the motion is to adopt The um GL process to recommend etc as revised 603 20 so to adopt Thank you I would change we can change the rest of this. I want to double check the charter references Maybe Mandy knows these cold make sure that they actually appropriate to what we are actually doing. Um I haven't got around to checking. There's also rules of procedure that should probably be cited Okay on the title page you think yeah charter those two charter sections and then there's there's a rule that A procedure that says who's doing it Okay Which is that? Uh, let me look it up. Thank you Oh, uh while she's looking it up. So rules of procedure Uh rule 10.9 And so the charter section is correct rules of procedure 10.9. I would strike everything after that That's my suggestion We've used this as a template, but there's no reason for us to reference it I don't think Because we've made some substantial changes, but we're deeply grateful to oca But okay All right, so we've made those slight changes. We have a motion in front of us. It's been Seconded Any further comments changes concerns Then I'm prepared to move to vote Again a roll call vote and we'll begin with pat de angeles. Yes And uh lin Yes And mandy joe. Yes The chair is a yes andy. Yes Again, this is unanimous vote to adopt This process as revised on this date all right Current update on status of applications. I did as instructed send out by email only at this point I'm planning to follow up with a phone call within Probably four or five days But I sent an email to all the active candidates In the pool Requesting the so I and I gave as the date june 17th We need to talk a little bit about schedule and scheduling But I gave them the date june 17th to get back the so I and telling them that if they did not Submit an so I they would be Removed from the pool If I don't get and I've not gotten any yet. It's only been a couple of days but Again, if instructed I will Call them immediately, but I thought I would give them email first the email also included the committee handout description and the What was the other thing that we asked Thank you selection guidance those two items were appended and I can also send you I didn't put it in the packet. Maybe I should have an actual copy of the email a sample copy I'll certainly keep it for the records, but if you'd like I could make that available to you, but Everyone has been sent That information and those who have not responded. I sent them another request Asking for an so I but asking them to With that information as well And so far. I've not heard from any of them. My sense is that those individuals are either simply I'm just no longer interested Some of them I think are no longer in the area But because they were their CRS were on record. They all were approached initially and They have not responded to any communications from me to this date But technically they're still in the pool. They have until june 17 to submit an SOI You do need to send them the new criteria So, uh, in other words with the language about the meeting, um, right Okay, all right And that's also good George, I'm sorry. We have five candidates. We have five that have responded. Yes, and they have all gotten This information and I will send it to them again the others. Um, I reached out to again asking for them to Indicate their interest and telling them about the SOI and the deadline But they did not get all the information I didn't feel comfortable sending them all this stuff Since they had not responded in any way shape or form But I did feel that I was required by you all to reach out to them again And tell them of the deadline of the SOI and ask them again to if they're interested they need to submit it But the five that um did respond it did say yes have gotten everything And they have the date and I will um, if I don't get anything from them within a week I will go back and remind them and they're going to get another reminder anyway because I'm going to be telling them sending in a slight change in the In the selection guidance So they'll have two reminders plus a third if it's necessary But it is possible that we when we come to review the SOIs We may not have fun Now I could call people. I mean that's another option. Um, and I think if I'm not hearing from anybody I definitely will be calling people But at the moment I'm relying on email communication Can we talk about schedule here a little bit? Um And I also want to just mention that um, there is one person in the audience They had raised their hand earlier. So you want to make sure that uh, thank you That's correct Okay, so um We will come to public comment in, uh A bit actually we still have a ways to go Unless the committee wants We are currently on item number five update on current status We still have item six Perhaps we will do it after item five because we don't know how long six is going to take So we could go to public comment after five That's again up to the committee if they're comfortable with that I'm willing to do that at that point we can reach out to the To the public in attendance and ask for a comment But at the moment they're uh in in position seven As they always are for this meeting um Scheduling I think we have a bit of a challenge given the uh, I mean obviously because the The position now begins july august 1 That gives us a little bit more time but um June 17th is when the SOIs Are officially due and um Which means the next time we could um review them We have obviously we could review them on our own But the next time we The for earliest we could schedule interviews would be july 1 And that would give us at least a week to put the SOIs up on a public uh forum so people can see it Right And we could do interviews july 1 The problem is that we don't meet again until july 15th And the council meets on july 13th And then the council does not meet again. I believe until august But that's an issue that actually is going to come before the council This coming week when we look at the town manager's Um evaluation schedule So our schedule the council schedule may change is what you're suggesting Okay, so the other option is we can have a special gol meeting just right. That's that's another option um Also another option is simply to we would actually not uh the person would not actually be formally approved until sometime in august But my assumption is that um, that would not really impact the finance committee that much That may be completely wrong, but that would make my so we have another options So it sounds like we don't have to what i'm afraid of is a a meeting where we are both um You know where we have to do the interviews and to vote at the same time And it looks like that's not going to be an issue Okay, because we could always we could have a special meeting So interviews July 1 are people comfortable with that? Yes And my thought I would actually suggest we try to vote that day Um, okay, that's an option. We always could do that. Um, I believe it is an option Yeah, okay. Yeah, there's nothing written that says we can't um And that would solve the problem with the council Yes, no matter what the council decides to do because they are meeting on July 13, so We have interviews in July 1 the thought is that um They're not mandatory, but people would be encouraged and we would do them serially Um, and so we would give us I'm suggesting giving a specific time to each of the those who are under going to be interviewed Um, they're certainly welcome to stick around or come in early. They can do whatever they like But we would uh, and I want to say 20 minutes. Is that too little too much? 15 minutes So some questions about the interview process. Do you want to do them serially? You want to do them 15 20 minutes? Um And the idea would be I would say to x you're on at 11 15 to y you're on at 12 whatever well, obviously the meeting ends at 12 30, but the point is that um That would be the the plan serial and 15 minutes 20 minutes. What do people think is needed mandy? So I would say 15 to start with who knows whether we'll run on time or late. Um 15's an hour and 15 minutes minimum if we do get all five back. Um, you know, 20 minutes would be an hour and 40 minutes, which gives us very little time to deliberate So I would stick with 15. I would in terms of because we're zoom type meetings I would say don't give anyone a panelist link that the host of the meeting can pop in the correct person into the panelist section At the time of their interview and then pop them back out into the attendee So they should not be I should not reach out to the Uh council clerk and say make them panelists Um, they will stay as attendees, but then the host good. Okay. Yeah, that's easily done Unless they come in by phone All right, and we even managed that so um, it was awkward, but we did it. Okay and I would just point out to uh Captain win who were also members of the finance committee presently were in sort of this weird place um That is uh, right in the middle of the period where we have uh twice a week right committee meetings And it's uh, July 1st is right in the middle of two days Which is fine because it's not a finance committee day. So I'm fine with it, but I just wanted to point it out Yeah All right, so um, any questions or concerns about the process as it stands at this moment So we agreed to serial interviews. We agreed that they will attend as attendees not as panelists We um And we've agreed obviously today through what the format of that is going to be Each one gets one question and a follow-up. Um, the question is up to you Any other questions concerns about that Well, I We do have a public president. I'm wondering if given the nature of five of six, which is could go on forever And I'm always been trying to put it off. Anyway, I have no trouble putting off No, that's not true. Um, so I'm just suggesting we go to public comment now rather than Further because I just don't know how long six is going to take and it's not it's already had someone wait this long So, um, if that's all right, um With lynn's help. I first need to read this. I believe Uh public comment within whoop Shouldn't touch that My screen is very sensitive Public comment on matters within the jurisdiction of to your committee. This is the item number seven residents are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes Um, based upon uh, well at the chair's discretion based upon the number of people who want to speak At the moment we have one attendee. So I think that's not an issue Um, we do not engage in dialogue or comment on a matter raised during public comment And the instructions are down below, which I need to read Um, so lynn if you could scroll that down just a bit So I can read it So to join the council meeting via zoom teleconferencing This person is already in the zoom link. You need to raise your hand. So that's the first thing we have an attendee But I actually haven't seen a raised hand. Do we have a raised hand? I can't see Give them the way to raise a hand by phone Okay, so, uh, right. They need that as well. So to indicate you wish to make a comment press star nine on your phone And um, then you will be recognized And I need to get that out of the way And I need to go to um attendees And they are muted, but I do not see a raised hand So anyone else seeing something I am I missing anything? No, I do not see a raised hand. So, um I'm going to give them a moment Wish to uh make a statement or are to participate in public comment You do need to raise your hand so I can recognize you Right now all I see on the screen is that your phone is muted Again, I'm not seeing a raised hand. I don't see any raised hand. I just hope everything's working right right, um Earlier I I did not notice this myself, but it sounded like at least one of you had noticed the raised hand earlier I I had noticed that someone came in and wanted to make a comment It's not clear to me how they came in because they shouldn't have been able to show they could make a comment at that It might have been a zoom bomb Oh, okay Again, I'm going to look one last time, but if not We're going to go back to now. I see nothing so I may check one last time before we're done um, because obviously we do value the public's comment and We're not trying to prevent it, but this format is challenging for all of us um All right. Well, I stole When my phone rings, I'm gonna have to leave the meeting because it's an interview Okay, um Then maybe, um We have some issue with the minutes that we need to address Couple of changes that I have to make Um, but I think that that could be done. I think you probably won't object to that being done If you're not present, um, but if you do, please And I do want us to end on time this item number Six has been obviously on our plate for a long time And I think what I need Rather than I mean, we could start going through it item by item um It might make sense for us to for you to give me some very clear instructions as to how you'd like to Me to approach this And we could simply have it as a major item on our agenda for next time Um It is Right, so I'm looking I guess for guidance here um That has our hand raised. Yeah pat and you have some thoughts on this. So please go ahead Yeah, it seems to me that in priority one and priority two there are some um, and actually Priority three there are some references Um about having the attorney look at those. I think we should just send those off Thank you. I was thinking that it would be possible to divide up priority one and Or all of the issues in in terms of our group like So that I might take the first five or something like that and then check What's been changed has it been changed or a committee? uh Because there are references to having the conservation committee look at things if we could have um sometimes spent on Each of these but not Not all of us all at the same time and then we can bring the changes and things that or questions that we have um So that's what I was thinking about possibly doing as a process okay And would you like this divvying to take place now? Do you or do you want to say that you're willing to do x y and z now? Or do you want to suggest that at the next meeting we all come with Or do you want to just do it first five next five next five? What would be the most efficient and uh user friendly approach here? I like the idea of sharing it out clearly Certainly anything that involves attorney review is something the chair could take on So you could say anything that has attorney review would simply we would not Would not be in our Personal list we just right and I think there were only three where there was attorney review although I didn't Okay Do people want to spend some time with this between now and the next meeting sort of choosing theirs or would it be Perhaps more fruitful for us to simply say take I'm sorry pat I was just gonna say we should just divide it up. Okay. All right. That's a suggestion any other thoughts In my screen play with here. I'm sorry George please raise your hand Mandy go ahead. Um, I would say just We assign every committee member two or three of these To look to look at to neck for next meeting Whatever they are just go straight down the order and come back with recommendations of this goes to the attorney This goes to a committee. This goes to the manager. This goes there For each of those whatever so that we can so that we're not all looking at all of them and having that discussion It it comes back to the committee with a you know, if i'm reporting on Nuisance bylaw or something saying, you know, this is what the bylaw review committee said This is what it needs to do So I recommend we as a group recommend that we send it off to wherever or we work on it on our own or something Like that. Okay So basically as pat has suggested just sort of giving it up. Um, three at a time Is that fair enough? Three at a time's fine. There's 31 or two of them Well, I think we might just do priority one and two for the moment. Is that fair enough? I mean, we can't do them all anyway now, but um, if we did just party one and two We're looking at how many I would say just start at the top of priority one and just start assigning three in a row and see where we get all right so Okay So we have two uh, two four three six. So the first three two four three six And I just can't scroll the screen so I can who's doing those Um, I'll start let's start with the chair Go ahead take the first three Okay, okay Um Mandy you want to take the next three? Sure And that starts where? I think 3.15 activities and amusements Okay, 3.15 And then I'm sorry I'm just going down littering and then nuisance house good Then 1.46 Um, I got wetlands is the next one. Maybe I'm looking at a different list Yeah, 3.31 is wetlands good The only thing that concerns me about what the way we're doing this is The we don't really we're not looking at the length or the complexity of each by-law So that it may be an unequal distribution as we But we we're and we will find that as we go through it Absolutely, right if someone finds it's way too much andy They can simply suggest that it'd be split or shared out or whatever You know, I noticed that one of them actually that we passed by had two by-laws listed in one box. I believe Yep, yeah And uh Who'd you stuff? Yeah, we're just doing it by boxes and people can always you know say look, this is too much or Or they can say it's a little Intent to come back with the recommended changes. This is just the intent for what the next step is Right But there is some complete the longer the more complex the by-law the More difficult that is to do that, but I just saw everybody's aware of it. It's okay Keep going keep going. Who's at 331? So, uh, let's put andy there. All right. I'm gonna leave george. Would you uh Just fill me in later. Well pat. Well, you would do you right now. Let's do pat. So She's got to go to the phone All right pat. All right, I'll get back to her So this would be the next one. I'll take this since I know it Okay, it's it'll be very quick by folks Thanks pat So which one's it 3.31 wetlands? Haven't left it somehow 3.31 is andy 1.46 is andy right And 349 is andy And 349 is andy. Okay, and then picks up with 3.50 All right, and does 2.4 and human rights and human Hold on But those two 2.4 and 3.3 were also george. So we should skip over them Is there a tourney review, right? Yeah Well, there's there's two issues with them apparently because that's the first one on priority one and then it's also those two So maybe george just gets those in those three areas Okay, okay, and then we assign and I picked up again license The other two george we Okay, mandy job. I picked up here So so I was just wondering if if we give george those he's got no that never mind All right, so I'm picking up again with grades and public And peaking and peering in the place of habitat Good luck with that lana. I'm jealous The peeping tom bylaw Okay, and then pat's going to do ban on p.s Eps he's gonna do three point Two seven open burning Yep and Junk vehicles. All right Okay That's on the list that leaves us with 3.44 3.48 So either pattern I could take tax increment I think our recommendation from wage theft working on was to not delete this and leave it as is Just what do you want to do can't mandy joe so I will I just assign that to me and I'll come out with some recommendation Okay, and the last one local historic districts I'll take it Okay. Well, Lynn, why don't you give that to the chair? Um, you've got enough on your plate for god's sake. So I'm really reluctant to Give it to me. Okay I'm a regular member of committees, but I'll give it to you gladly. Thank you. All right So is this something you can send us all later? Yes Thank you I will actually make a separate column and show the people there. All right, that would be helpful And this would be a priority item obviously for the next meeting Barring sort of funds for scene Problem one good. Thank you all the one resolution The next meeting to the anti asian one anti asian. Yes that at the moment is what I have As for future agenda items anti asian Um, and then we're going to work on this um Future There's there's one thing that maybe for the next meeting. Yep, it can wait till potentially the july meeting Um, we forgot to it's an automatic referral the council referred The zoning bylaw section 11.25 to to crc and planning board It it by the rules automatically comes to gol anyway Um, I don't know whether gol will want to review it before or after the hearing Probably afterwards after would be but again, what is that mandy 11 point 11.25? It was the voting amount Right. Um that was referred on monday night. It's an automatic to gol anyway. So we didn't miss that on monday Um, the hearing will be june 17th So that could if you want to do it it seems weird to do it before the hearing We did that with this temporary But look sounds to me mandy joe like we won't do that until the july Do I want July one if we have time and then come up until the middle of July can I just ask is there an urgency before then that you know of bandy joe? So there will be a time limit There will be 90 days from june 17th for the council to actually act and vote So we have I don't see that as the problem. So that shouldn't be a problem if we get it in front of the council July august, you know early august though, but it would have to be early august because Depending on the meetings, but because the council needs if we do it july 1st It can go on the august on the july 13th If we want another meeting either at the end of july beginning of august. Yeah Okay, I'm asking about urgency. I meant do you know of any of these site reviews that need A different makeup and I want I think that depends on whether uh oka gets through Appointments or not and what those whether those, you know, if we get new appointments or if they end up vacant or if planning board members You know continue on After their term ends if we're not able to appoint. So I can't answer that because that's an oka issue. But if if there ends up being Vacancies in the planning board This not, you know, not holding this amendment could present problems Yeah, it could seriously Okay I don't know where it stands on planning board appointments though. So We're moving along We don't have a date yet for formal interviews so But you also don't have a sufficient pool. Do you That I don't know the answer to that actually um at the moment. We had to would probably be don't but um You haven't voted it sufficient yet. No, we have no we have not so that hasn't happened yet So we have the adhesion. Um, we have the future considerations and we may or may not want to In Certainly the next meeting definitely not But maybe after July 1 we might be looking at This bylaw 11.25 Okay Any other items that people are thinking it sounds like we've pretty much covered what's coming up At the moment that we're aware of There's nothing not anticipated. I want to go back to eight though unless there's any other business that people want to raise And I can't see hands But I I mean, let me just check and see Um, no, I don't see any hands Um, if you have a moment if you had a chance to look I had to make some changes to the minutes Um, I think most of them there's one that's a major change that I do need your advice on Um, I'm pretty sure it's pretty obvious, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something. Um The other changes should have been noted I added someone a member john page was present. So I put him in um, but on the Under item three referral counsel policy in public ways Which was taken out of order the Highlighted section at the end grease were moved to approve the amendment made to the temporary bylaw wording That is I take it not correct, right? She made a motion to approve the changes to the council policy in public ways Correct Correct as amended. Yeah as amended. So I'm going to change the wording there Um, I did not change it in the document you're looking at because I wanted to make sure I wasn't Dreaming. Um, so I will make that change um On under item number seven And again, please speak up if you have anything else that you want to change or change um This is a very small point, but I it's under grease and remove to declare the pool sufficient near the bottom of item seven um It was it was hana key right who mentioned the date on one of the cafs not ryan So I I which I'm going to change that Where is that? That's it on under seven was me. Yeah, it was it was mary andy joe Is it this one? Um, I have to go back to my screen. Thank you I'm looking at no the first one right after the bulb where it says ryan mentioned Yeah, okay And then I will make these changes. I just want you to see them. I want you to be aware of them um And now my screen is frozen. That's interesting Okay All right. Well, that'll be interesting for a journey, but um, okay, so that's a change And Again on this is the long section Item eight way way down near the bottom right before it says 1243 steinberg left the meeting and then rejoined It says grease them or greed with ryan's idea To allow the current member to continue. It was not my idea. I know that for a fact Um, I I'm not sure. I thought it was linz. Does anyone remember who actually made the suggestion that we should was it andy Who made the suggestion that we should Extend I think I did I think it was lin might be lin. It could have been me. I don't remember. No, I think I recommended it Okay, well, I can go back and look at the tape, but I just wanted to point that out Um, and that's it. So the main change the main concern was the motion um, we're all agreed that obviously referred to The public ways and I I will make sure so I'm going to make these changes and then mark it as Approved unless I hear a jack anyone and you're gonna have to speak up because my screen is frozen It's I think it's fine Okay, that's fine with me. Okay So by consensus, I'm going to accept these I'm going to uh Take these minutes as approved by consensus As amended as changed today this date. I will make those changes and then submit them to the town to the council clerk Unless I hear objections from anyone and I'm not hearing them And again, I don't know what's andy. You're okay. Thank you. Um, because I cannot My screen is now frozen Um That's a new that's a new thing for me. All right, we have managed to make it through um our meeting And it is almost 11 12 30. So, um, I'm prepared to Call this meeting to an end and to adjourn gl at What I have is 12 28 All right I can't see your faces. I can't see anything right now except a blank screen But thank you all very much You all have your homework for next time Yeah, I'm not going to shut off until I've saved all these documents That's fine. I'm going to play with my computer and see if I can actually get uh, but thank you And then lin you'll send me That later if you can Yeah All right Thank you all All right, many. Thank you. Andy. Thank you. Of course, Lynn. Thank you and pat in absentia. Thank you Thank you. Yep. I think we got a lot done george We did. Um, I think all things considered. Um But I have a technical problem now that's quite Puzzling to me is to my machine has completely frozen and I can't get it to do a darn thing But so You can't see the coffee Yeah Can't even get it to turn off Which is pretty impressive may have to reboot I accept it. It's not right. Anyway, it's my problem not yours. Um So I'm gonna maybe I just take it and put it in a bath of water Yeah, right. I don't know. Um But