In Plymouth, the Community Preservation Committee, or CPC, meeting of July 13th, was one in which some agenda items were accomplished, but the road to those achievements was often a difficult one.
Three CPC members were absent: Mike Tubin, Birgitta Kuehn, and Russ Shirley.
The standard rule of procedure at such meetings is that the agenda is followed and committee members raise a hand to speak and do so when recognized by the Chair. But, at times, this did not happen.
WATD’s Bobbi Clark has more…
Finance Director Lynne Barrett, talked about the available funds for CPC for the next fiscal year.
“The total is about four million dollars for fiscal 24.”
The next agenda item was listed as: “Fall Town Meeting Warrant, Deadline August 11th.” So, Chairman Bill Keohan—began addressing it.
But, that did not sit well with new member Betty Cavacco.
At first, she followed accepted practice of raising her hand to speak, but then Cavacco began to interrupt, insisting that the matter of staff support and counsel be addressed out of order, and that the Town Manager, step to the podium and speak on those issues.
Chairman Keohan responded that for the moment the discussion was with the Committee.
Regarding the matter of staff support, Town Manager Derek Brindisi says that the CPC would:
“… benefit from hiring a part-time professional staff person to help facilitate the business affairs of the Committee. And tonight, we furthered that discussion. It appears that the Committee voted 4 to 2 in favor of that recommendation.”
Chairman Bill Keohan:
“I voted no because there was not a full compliment of the Committee.”
Keohan was joined in that vote against the measure by CPC board member Allen Hemberger.
In a text message to Betty Cavacco, questioning why, at times, she spoke without being recognized by the Chair and why she insisted on raising an item scheduled for a later time on the agenda, Cavacco responded: “I didn’t.”
And, Cavacco, also stated, “When a quorum is present, any and all business can be acted upon.”
