Plymouth charter panel adopts Version 240628 table of contents, approves expanded Town Manager duties

The Town of Plymouth Charter Review Committee on July 2 approved a set of revisions to its working draft of the town charter, including adoption of the table of contents from Charter Version 240628 and a reorganized statement of the Town Manager's powers.

Alan Costello, chair of the Charter Review Committee, called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and the committee first addressed administrative items: the June 18 minutes were not ready for a vote, there was no public comment, and members scheduled the next meeting for July 16, 2024 (with a tentative July 23 date).

Len Levin presented the redline Charter Version 240628, saying he is still integrating approved changes from minutes and that the task remains intensive. Members discussed preparing a timeline and holding a subcommittee meeting before the July 16 session.

Member Martha Vautrain proposed a substantial reorganization of the draft charter's table of contents intended to align the new draft more closely with the current charter’s chapter order (keeping the Legislative Branch as Chapter 2 and the Executive Branch as Chapter 3) and moving certain clerk responsibilities. Betty Cavacco moved to adopt Vautrain’s reorganization (seconded by Tim Lawlor); the motion failed, recorded 2-6-0.

Following that, Vice Chair Steve Bolotin moved, seconded by Laurence Pizer, to adopt the Table of Contents as shown in Charter Version 240628. That motion passed, 6-2-0, confirming Version 240628 as the committee’s working TOC.

The committee then considered a reorganized draft of Section 3-5-1, "Town Manager: Powers and Duties," presented by Vautrain. The revision groups the Town Manager’s responsibilities into General; Personnel, Hiring, and Bargaining; Financial; and Property, Facilities, and Procurement categories. The proposed language retains the Town Manager’s role as the chief administrative officer, clarifies appointment and veto timelines for department head actions, and explicitly references procurement authority under G.L. c. 30B. Vautrain moved to accept the revised Section 3-5-1; Steve Bolotin seconded, and the motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.

Members approved a set of technical and style edits by unanimous vote. The committee adopted a definition of "Town Meeting" — "Any meeting of the full body of Representative Town Meeting members called for under this Charter" — on a motion by Bolotin, seconded by Tim Lawlor (8-0-0). Bolotin also successfully moved to allow capitalization of 'Town' when referring to the Town of Plymouth and, in a separate motion, capitalization of Town offices and positions (for example, Planning Board, Select Board); both motions passed 8-0-0. The committee approved striking the second sentence of Section 4-1-2 and voted to insert identical language on simultaneous officeholding into both Chapters 2 and 3 to avoid redundancy; those motions passed 8-0-0.

Alan Costello asked whether Representative Town Meeting members should be explicitly exempt from prohibitions on holding multiple elected offices; after discussion members agreed no explicit exemption was necessary and took no action.

Betty Cavacco left shortly before adjournment. The meeting concluded at 7:50 p.m.; Michelle A. Turner, recording secretary, noted the minutes were approved on July 16, 2024.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to accept proposed reorganization of the Table of Contents (Vautrain): failed, 2-6-0 (mover: Betty Cavacco; second: Tim Lawlor). • Motion to accept Table of Contents as shown in Charter Version 240628: passed, 6-2-0 (mover: Steve Bolotin; second: Laurence Pizer). • Motion to accept revised Section 3-5-1 (Town Manager: Powers and Duties): passed unanimously, 8-0-0 (mover: Martha Vautrain; second: Steve Bolotin). • Motion to adopt definition of "Town Meeting": passed unanimously, 8-0-0 (mover: Steve Bolotin; second: Tim Lawlor). • Motions to standardize capitalization for 'Town' and Town offices: passed unanimously, 8-0-0 (mover: Steve Bolotin; seconds: Laurence Pizer and Joseph Hutchinson, respectively). • Motion to strike second sentence of Section 4-1-2: passed unanimously, 8-0-0 (mover: Steve Bolotin; second: Laurence Pizer). • Motion to place language disallowing simultaneous holding of certain elected offices in both Chapters 2 and 3: passed unanimously, 8-0-0 (mover: Steve Bolotin; second: Laurence Pizer).

What happens next: the committee will continue redline work and meet again on July 16 to advance outstanding edits and finalization of Charter Version 240628.