The Clock is Ticking

The newly elected Charter Commission has set Friday, November 13th, at 7:45 AM in City Council chambers as the time and place for it's "organizing meeting."

Here in Newburyport, the term "organizing meeting" is a phrase with some history and heft. Usually immediately after an elected body is sworn in, they meet to determine their infra-structure and framework for accomplishing their work. Translated, that means they choose a Chair, Vice Chair, and any other statutory offices required. It also means that they will literally decide how they are going to decide. Will they operate by consensus? Will they use Robert's Rules of Order, or a modification of the rules. Will they opt for mob rule, or deferring to the loudest, or them most politically adventurous? All decisions to be made in public session.

I suspect there will also be some conversation about how we hope to organize the task ahead.

In their organizational meeting after the inauguration, the City Council meets briefly to elect a President. In their organizational meeting, the School Committee will choose a Vice Chair, who in effect manages the meetings of the School Committee, and is our designee to the administration. The Charter Commission will follow suit this Friday.

All meetings will be open to the public.