City Council - Rules & Government Relations Committee

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL Easthampton Municipal Building 50 Payson Ave., Ste. 100 Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027-2260 Telephone #: (413) 529-1460 2/27/2020 MINUTES (Approved) RULES and GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Meeting 2/27/2020 Attendees: R&GR Committee Members: Councilor Thomas Peake, Chair Councilor Peg Conniff, Clerk Councilor Dan Rist Other Attendees: Joe Banas - COA - Board - Everett Street Brendan Rogers, Director, COA - Grant Street Meeting called to order at 5:04pm. The meeting was videotaped. 1. Approval for past minutes. Minutes from 12/3/2019 and 12/11/19 were approved. MOTION by Councilor Rist: Move to approve minutes from December 3, 2019 and December 11, 2019. SECOND Councilor Peake. Passed 2-0. Councilor Conniff abstained as she was not on the Committee during that timeframe. 2. Minutes from 2/17/2020 meeting were approved. MOTION by Councilor Rist: Move to ap- prove minutes from February, 17, 2020 SECOND Councilor Peake. Passed 3-0. 3. Discussion of the proposal from Councilor Kwiecinski to create a Committee to study Senior Tax Work-off Program. Councilor Kwiecinski was not in attendance but Councilor Conniff and Joe Banas have been researching this program for months and both spoke of some of the parameters they have learned. 3.1. The Rules Committee discussed possible committee structure. It was decided to create an ad hoc committee - “Senior Tax Work-Off Program Committee” - comprised of the following: • 2 City Councilors  • 2 Representatives from the Council on Aging • 2 Easthampton Residents • 1 member from Finance • Department Heads and the HR Director will be called to attend these meet- ings as needed. • The charter for this committee is: To develop the parameters of a Senior Tax Work-Off Program, as allowed by law, and prepare a report to the full City Council with their recommendation. • MOTION by Councilor Rist: Move to approve the creation of an ad hoc committee for Senior Tax Work-Off Program with the defined member representatives and proposed charter, SECOND: Councilor Conniff. Passed 3-0 3.2 Joe Banas suggested that if this moves forward, the key for obtaining participation is to advertise widely within the city on all media including Public Access Television. 4. The committee discussed the changes to the proposed Council Rule #5C. Councilor Peake presented revised wording for the rule as followed: • RULE 5C INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS No measure shall be received or acted upon unless introduced by a member of the Coun- cil or by a process otherwise provided by the Easthampton Home Rule Charter. Whenev- er a Councilor requests consideration of any measure by the full Council, a draft of the language to be considered should be presented. Such draft shall be presented along with any additional information or research. Any council measure request shall include a de- tailed list of objectives and/or requested council action. All requested drafts or actions must be submitted to the council clerk for the inclusion in the next meeting agenda pack- et. • Motion made by Councilor Rist: Move to make recommendation to full council to ap- prove the amended wording for Rule #5C. Seconded by Councilor Conniff. Motion passed 3-0 3. Discussion of new rule proposal - 11L - for the timely creation of minutes to public body meetings: Councilor Conniff did not present any new wording. It was agreed that City Clerk Barbara LaBombard should weigh in on any new rule that may impact her process. 3.1. Councilor Peake will invite the city Clerk to the next Rules meeting 5:39 pm - Motion to adjourn by Councilor Rist, seconded by Councilor Conniff. Motion passed 3-0 Next Meeting: Thursday, 3/12 at 5:00pm