2000-09-20Beverly Charter Commission
Minutes of Meeting, September 20, 2000
A meeting of the Beverly Charter Commission was held in City Hall at 7:31 PM
on September 20, 2000. It was noted that the official clock in the chamber is five
minutes slow. All members were present.
Two citizens spoke during the first public comment period.
The Commission was informed that, based on information obtained from the
Secretary of State’s office, there is no need to transcribe the tape recordings as long as
there are written minutes. The minutes of March 22, 2000 were revised by removing
paragraphs four and five as unnecessary. The minutes were approved 6-3. The minutes
of June 25, 2000 were corrected to reflect that Mr. Flaherty is the president of the city
council, and the spelling of council was corrected. The minutes of June 25, 2000 were
approved by 8 members, with one abstention.
Chair Quigley informed the Commission he had received word indirectly that Mr.
Michael Curran, an attorney who had been engaged by the Commission to provide his
opinion at this meeting, would not be attending. Mr. John Quinn had received a fax the
previous evening from Mr. Curran with his opinion on the issue of re-opening West
Beach, which was distributed and discussed.
The process for proceeding will be to complete a preliminary report consisting of
the text of the proposed revision to the charter, an explanation including the differences
between the old and new language, and possibly a 1,000 word maximum minority
statement. A public hearing will be held within four weeks from the publication of the
preliminary report in a local newspaper. There was discussion about alternative methods
for preparing the report, and it was determined that a document would be prepared by Mr.
Quinn for the next meeting, which was scheduled for January 17, 2001, on a motion
approved 5-4.
Four citizens spoke during the concluding public comment period.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.