BY-LAW REVIEW COMMITTEE
The By-Law Review Committee was established under Article 25 of the General By-Laws. The principal function of the By-Law Review Committee is to review proposals for General By-Law changes. It is not charged with the task of proposing substantive changes on its own. If requested by the Selectmen or another Town Board or officer, the Committee will assist in drafting amendments or additions to the General By-Laws that are proposed for inclusion in the Warrant for any Town Meeting. The Committee is also charged with the duty of reporting to the Town Meeting any recommendations it considers appropriate on any article in a Town Meeting Warrant that proposes an amendment or addition to the General By-Laws.
In 2005 prior to the Annual Town Meeting, the Committee reviewed two warrant articles proposing amendments to the General By-Laws.
Article 22, included at the request of the Town Clerk, proposed an amendment to section 5.12 of the By-Laws concerning fees for various documents furnished by the Town Clerk’s office. Section 5.12, prior to amendment, provided a schedule of fees for these documents. The amendment gave the Town Clerk authority to set fees. With input from the Chair, the wording of the proposed amendment was changed from the version set forth in the Warrant. This version was approved by the Committee.
Article 24 submitted by the Police Department proposed a new bylaw (new Article 30 of the General By-Laws) governing door-to-door solicitation and canvassing. This version was reviewed and approved by the Committee. Prior to Town Meeting (without input from the Committee) the proposed bylaw was substantially revised as a result of negotiations between Selectman Brownsberger and the Department. The revisions were offered as amendments to the main motion by Selectman Brownsberger and approved by Town Meeting. At Town Meeting an additional amendment to the proposed bylaw was offered by Town Meeting member Eloise McGaw changing the evening time limit for solicitation and canvassing from 9 P.M. to “7 P.M. or dark whichever comes first”. The Committee was offered no opportunity to review her amendment,
which was approved by Town Meeting, prior to her offering of it.
The approvals of these warrant articles by the Committee were as to form and placement in the General By-Laws.
The Attorney General first approved Article 30 as adopted by Town Meeting, but after complaint from Lt. Hoerr of the Police Department, he rescinded his approval of the changed evening time limit for solicitation and canvassing. Article 2 of the warrant for a special Town Meeting held on October 24, 2005, proposed restoration of the 9 P.M. time limit specified in Article 30 as originally proposed. The Committee approved the amendment proposed by the warrant article as to form and placement in the General By-Laws. The amendment was approved by Town Meeting.
Many thanks are due from the Committee and the Town in general for work done by Committee member Robert Gallant, who has taken on the task of regularly updating the printed General By-Laws following required approvals by the Attorney General of changes made by Town Meeting. Copies of the General By-Laws are available in the Town Clerk’s office and on the Town’s website.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles M. Hamann, Chairman
Robert M. Gallant, Susan H. Timberlake, Rebecca Webb, Delores Keefe, Town Clerk, ex- officio
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