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Haverhill council votes to allow smaller Commission on Disability to meet quorum
Summary
Councilors approved an amendment to the city code to permit the Commission on Disability to be constituted with five, seven or nine members and said they would start with five so the body can function and award scholarships.
The Haverhill City Council voted unanimously to amend the city code to change the possible size of the Commission on Disability so it can form a quorum and carry out its work.
Mayor Melinda Barrett told the council the commission had been unable to meet because the prior composition required nine members and volunteers were not available. "They have been unable to have a quorum because the bar is too high for their attendance," the mayor said, explaining the amendment would allow the commission to operate with options of five, seven or nine members.
Councilor McGonigal moved the amendment, with Councilor Toohey seconding. The motion passed on a roll call of 10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent.
Mayor Barrett said the commission wants to solicit scholarships from students and has been unable to do that because it could not reach a quorum. Under the approved ordinance language, the city can set the commission at five members now and increase membership later if interest grows.
The amendment was filed as "Document 43: ordinance regarding commission to amend the code of the City of Haverhill relating to commission on disability issues" and seeks to amend Chapter 2 (Boards and Commissions), Article 4 of the city code. Councilors indicated the change was meant to restore the commission’s ability to meet and to carry out outreach and program work.
The council approved the ordinance 10–0–1.
