[Ord. No. 42-1999, 1-18-2000]
(a)
Nominations for vacancies to council-appointed City boards or committees
may be made by the Mayor or any member of the City council. It is
expected that City councilors, who are elected to represent people
and whose election reflects different constituent views, should appoint
persons to City committees to assist in carrying out those views.
(b)
Sometime before the beginning of the fiscal year and after the June
elections, the City Clerk will publicize the full list of City committees
and indicate all vacancies, inviting interested members of the public
to apply using a City-prepared form. Copies of all applications shall
be distributed by the City Clerk routinely to the City council. The
council may consider candidates as nominated by councilors and/or
from applications received by the City Clerk. From time to time during
the year, especially when any committee vacancies accumulate, the
City Clerk shall advertise that existing vacancies are available and
again invite citizens to apply. New applications will be added to
any existing applications remaining for vacant positions.
(c)
When considering appointments, the City council may discuss candidates
in open or in executive session, depending on the vote of the council.
When discussing candidates, whether it is an open session or in an
executive session, it shall occur at a duly called meeting of the
council. A majority vote of the council shall determine whether it
is an open or an executive session.
(d)
For standing committees created by Charter, ordinance or state statute,
the council shall interview candidates when there is more than one
candidate seeking or being nominated to the position. The interviews
shall generally be conducted in open session; an exception may be
granted for part or all of an interview if four members of the council
vote to go into executive session to discuss matters which could potentially
be embarrassing to any candidate. Interviews may be conducted at times
other than at regularly scheduled council meetings, either before
the regularly scheduled meeting or on other occasions. All interviews,
however, shall take place at duly noticed public meetings.
(e)
For committees, including ad hoc committees, task forces, and the
like, not created by Charter, ordinance or statute for which there
is more than one candidate being considered for each vacancy, the
council shall vote whether to interview the candidates or not. It
is recognized that there are times when the council may determine
that it is not necessary to conduct an interview, either based on
prior knowledge of the candidates, a candidate's outstanding
expertise, experience or knowledge relevant to the committee under
consideration, or other factors. Whether or not interviews will be
conducted shall be determined by majority vote of the council in each
instance for each appointment being considered.
(f)
For ad hoc committees and task forces, the City council, if it so
chooses, may designate one of the appointees to chair the committee
or task force. If the council does not name a chair, the chair shall
be selected by a vote of the membership of the committee.
(g)
All council votes on procedures and on particular appointments shall,
consistent with state law, be conducted in public and be recorded
in official minutes, following due notice of public meetings.
[Ord. No. 42-1999, 1-18-2000]
All committee meetings, whether for standing committees or ad
hoc committees, shall be open to the public in accordance with the
freedom of information laws. No business shall be conducted without
a quorum being present.
[Ord. No. 42-1999, 1-18-2000]
Unless otherwise specified, committee appointments shall become
effective July 1 of each year. Length of terms shall be determined
by the Charter, ordinance or resolve creating the particular committee.
Generally, a standing committee shall have staggered terms; ad hoc
committee terms shall be renewed annually until the committee is dissolved.
Appointments may be made to fill uncompleted terms upon resignations
or other vacancies created.
[Ord. No. 42-1999, 1-18-2000]
(a)
Any committee member shall forfeit his office if the member fails
to attend three consecutive meetings of the committee without being
excused by the committee, or fails to attend at least 60% of the regular
committee meetings during any twelve-month period. The secretary of
each committee shall be responsible for taking and recording attendance
and reporting the attendance, along with the minutes, of each meeting
to the City Clerk. The committee secretary shall be responsible for
reporting to the Clerk any violations of the attendance policy. The
Clerk will provide copies of committee minutes, including attendance,
to the City council and will report to the council when the committee
secretary has reported an attendance breach. In addition, attendance
records shall be reported annually to the City council by each committee
secretary.
(b)
Once the Clerk has reported that a committee member has failed to
meet the attendance requirements, the City council shall declare the
seat vacant and proceed to appoint a replacement following the procedures
prescribed in this division.
[Ord. No. 42-1999, 1-18-2000]
Standing committees shall continue for an indefinite period.
Ad hoc committees shall be formally dissolved by a council vote once
their mission has been accomplished or it has been determined that
the committee is unable to productively continue.
[Ord. of 4-21-1988, § 101]
There is hereby established a conservation commission.
[Ord. of 4-21-1988, § 102]
(a)
The conservation commission shall consist of five members, serving
without pay, to be appointed by the City council. Members will serve
three-year staggered terms and shall be and remain during their term
of service residents of the City. The appointments are to be made
at the time of all other regular committee appointments.
(b)
In the event of the resignation of any member, or his death, inability
to serve or absence from three consecutive meetings without being
excused by the chair for good reason, the City council shall appoint
a member to finish his term.
(c)
The City council may appoint associate members to assist the commission.
These associate members shall be nonvoting members except in the absence
of regular members and may be appointed for one year terms.
(d)
City council members may not serve on the commission.
[Ord. of 4-21-1988, §§ 103, 104]
(a)
The conservation commission shall choose from the membership a chair,
vice-chair and secretary.
(b)
The chair shall preside at all meetings of the conservation commission,
appoint all subcommittees subject to approval by the commission, represent
the commission at public affairs and hearings and maintain the dignity
and efficiency of the commission.
(c)
The vice-chair shall serve in the absence of the chair.
(d)
The secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and promptly
file them with the City Clerk upon their approval by the commission.
The secretary will be responsible for all correspondence and file
copies of the correspondence with the City Clerk, to be kept in a
notebook along with the minutes.
[Ord. of 4-21-1988, § 105]
(a)
Meetings of the conservation commission shall, whenever possible,
be held at City hall and shall be open to the public. The regular
meeting date shall be set by the commission and the agenda posted
on the bulletin board at City hall at least five days before the meeting.
(b)
Three voting members constitute a quorum at any meeting.
[Ord. of 4-21-1988, § 106]
(a)
The conservation commission shall conduct research, in conjunction
with the planning board, into the local land areas and shall seek
to coordinate the activities of conservation bodies organized for
similar purposes. It shall keep an index of all open space, publicly
or privately owned, within the City, including open marshlands, swamps
and other wetlands, for the purpose of obtaining information pertinent
to proper utilization, protection, development or use of such open
areas and may recommend to the City council, the parks and recreation
commission or the planning board a program for the better utilization,
protection, development or use of such areas, which may include the
acquisition of conservation easements. Any body politic or public
agency of the state conducting planning operations with respect to
open areas within the City shall notify the commission of all plans
and planning operations at least 30 days prior to implementation of
any action thereunder.
(b)
The commission may acquire land in the name of the City and accept
gifts in the name of the City only with the permission of the City
council.
(c)
As used in this section, the term "open space" means any space or
area the preservation or restriction of the use of which would maintain
or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources, protect
natural streams or water supplies, promote conservation of swamps,
wetlands, beaches or tidal marshes, enhance the value to the public
of abutting or neighboring parks, forests, wildlife preserves, nature
reservations or sanctuaries, or other open areas or open spaces, affect
or enhance public recreation opportunities, preserve historic sites,
implement the plan of development adopted by the planning board, or
promote orderly urban or suburban development.
(d)
The commission shall, prior to making any recommendations pursuant
to this section to the City council, submit copies to the planning
board for its review at least 30 days prior to their submission to
the City council.
(e)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with or usurp
any duties, powers, or functions of the existing parks and recreation
commission or planning board.
