The next Democratic Town Committee meeting is
Sunday, May 4, at 7:00 PM at Heritage.
Minutes – Democratic Town Committee – April 6, 2003
Called to order 7:12 PM.
MEMBERS ATTENDING: Steve Blesofsky, Esther Hopkins, Donna Howland, Barbara Magovsky, Stephanie Mercandetti, Lyn Safian, Joan Seariac, Norma Shulman.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ATTENDING: Barbara Gray, Mat Helman, Tom Mahoney, Shahid Kahn, Rochelle Sivan, Parwez Wahid.
OTHERS ATTENDING: John Howland.
Announcements:
1. Congratulations to Tom Mahoney on his re-election to the Planning Board.
2. Noted that Linda Fields (as a Democrat) will be part of the Board of Registrars reviewing signatures on the SOT petition.
3. There will be a special TM within the annual, mostly zoning articles.
4. We will apply for a grant to support the web site, a 2-3 year plan will be submitted.
5. Young Democrats met yesterday for their convention. Mat Helman was elected vice-chair. Please refer 18-35 year olds who are interested to Mat for more information.
6. May 16, 9-11 AM, Secretary of Human Services Ronald Preston will be at Plymouth Church to speak about what’s happening with human services in the current budget crisis. All welcome, join them for breakfast. To reserve a (free) seat, call Wayside Youth and Family Network (lead sponsor of the event) at 508-879-9800, x.231.
7. Stephanie went to Democratic Committee Chairs Day event, with focus groups, including sharing information about how the different town committee’s function, etc.
8. Doug Freeman invited us to match the 5 members of the Republican Town Committee walking in the Mass. Walk for Arthritis, May 18. Parwez, Shahid, Norma, Mat, are potentially interested. Others,please call Steve to sign up or for more information.
Speakers: Kate Donaghue and Bill Dooling representing the Convention Reform Commission
Kate publishes the email Democratic Dispatch for the Resor and Magnani Senate districts and includes information of interest to those districts.
The Convention Reform Commission was formed after the convention to look at all the issues related to how we nominate our candidate for governor, everything from the rules to the charter to Mass General Law. Topics range from do we even need a convention, to the 15% rule, how many ballots, what is the purpose of the endorsement?
What the convention lacked in efficiency, it made up for in inefficiency and chaos. The tabulation was not the main problem; the challenges (to delegates and to votes) were the big problem. They are looking at everything, the date of the primary, the size of the convention, etc. The commission can suggest changes, but has to go to the state level and so on. There will be 8 hearings, 4 Saturdays included. One will be at Framingham State. There will be a mini-hearing on Saturday morning at the convention in Lowell.
Comments/suggestions:
There should be constant updates on what’s going on during the convention.
The deals made the 15% rule meaningless.
It was a shame that a candidate who played by the rules, ran on clean elections, didn’t get 15%.
Was the rule that committed delegates had to vote for that candidate on the first ballot just ignored?
The hoopla, multiple speakers, videos, made it too long.
Maybe the candidates should have a shorter time limit for their presentation.
Maybe there should be a 15% rule on the first ballot.
Maybe there should be one round and no endorsement, and maybe a 5 or 10% rule.
The in-fighting cost the party support for the Democratic candidate.
Do we want a lot of candidates or fewer?
Framingham is one of the larger groups of delegates. What about dividing this up by groups of precincts?
How about a universal ballot? Have all the candidates speak first, then vote on one ballot for all races.
Need to have a facility where the amenities are more available – like food, water, etc. They are thinking about having the fee include a box lunch.
How do we feel about having the alternates switch in? Should delegates have to be in the hall on time or the alternates get in? There is now a teller or a switch captain for each senate district to handle getting in the alternates.
There was trouble getting the credentials and getting into the hall. They are thinking of ways to improve that.
You can send an email to [email protected] with your testimony to the commission.
MINUTES (Norma Shulman): No quorum present. Will vote on minutes in May.
TREASURER’S REPORT (submitted by Bill Haberman, information reported by Norma Shulman)
No quorum present. Will vote on treasurer’s report in May.
Cash on hand 3/9/03 $658.12
Deposits (dues) $30.00
Interest $0.00
Subtotal $688.12
Expenses (meeting rm) $30.00
Cash on hand 4/6/03 $658.12
As of 4/6, 3 still owe dues for last year. 11 owe dues for this year.