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Charter Minutes

Charter Commission Minutes 

Town of Hartford Charter Commission

Monday, July 14, 2008

West Hartford Library

7:00 p.m.

Present: Michael Lyford, Chairman; Bruce Macdonald, Vice Chair; Jim Tonkovich, Secretary; Stephen Arkwright; Kevin French; Harry Kendrick; Clair Lovell; Joanne Roth; Paul Sunde; Randy Whatley; William Wittick.

    I.      Call to Order: Mr. Lyford called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

  II.      Public Comment: None

III.      Review minutes of 6/16/08 meeting. Mr. Macdonald moved to approve.  Ms. Roth seconded.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

IV.      Discussion of Charter Amendment Timeline - Option 2: Derry Goodwin was thanked for her research, which has resulted in a proper schedule per state law. October 14 appears to be the key date, up to which time possible revisions based on public feedback can be made. The Commission would need to meet prior to October 14, 2008 to approve any revisions. Mr. Lyford reminded the Commission that the scheduling and publicizing of public hearings were the responsibility of the Selectboard, but this did not preclude the Commission from providing some exposure to the charter on their own. Mr. Whatley will look into a presentation to the White River Rotary; Mr. Macdonald will look into a Quechee Lakes presentation; and Ms. Roth will see about one at a Bugbee Senior Center lunch.

  V.      Discussion of School District’s Revisions: Mr. Lyford pointed out that the School Board had used an older draft, instead of Draft #10 which they were sent. There was much discussion by the Commission about the deletion of virtually all references to the School District and the creation of a separate chapter, which was made up of a few recreated omissions but most certainly not all. Commission members were puzzled by changes that appeared to result in almost total defaulting to state law. Commission members expressed a belief that Draft #10 recognized the Town and School District as separate entities while offering the broadest possible group of voters the opportunity to participate in the governance of each through simplified and better-coordinated meeting and voting processes.  The School District draft of the document appeared to Charter Commission members to move the Town and School District governance structure in the opposite direction from what Commission members had intended.  Nevertheless, the Commission proceeded to review every single change created by the School Board.

             Following final discussion by the Commission, Mr. Lyford volunteered to draft a response to the School Board, to be reviewed by Commission members, which would include the request for a written response back by July 28 (which has been set as the next Charter Commission meeting).

VI.      Adjournment: Mr. Macdonald moved to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. Mr. Whatley seconded.  all were in favor and the motion carried.

Jim Tonkovich, Secretary