MCCPS Board of Trustees

Minutes

Governance Committee By Laws Review

Date and Time

Tuesday April 14, 2020 at 7:00 PM

Location

Zoom Meeting 
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Meeting ID: 389 839 4128
Password: MCCPS
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https://us04web.zoom.us/j/3898394128?pwd=QndLYk9jVjcyNEJ5dXZGRWhnMDhSUT09
 
Meeting ID: 389 839 4128
Password: MCCPS

Committee Members Present

Christopher Riegle (remote), Cynthia Canavan (remote), Elizabeth Burns (remote), Jeanne Smith (remote), Karl Smith (remote), Kay O'Dwyer (remote), Paul Baker (remote), Peter Cohen (remote)

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

Artie Sullivan (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Karl Smith called a meeting of the Governance Committee of MCCPS Board of Trustees to order on Tuesday Apr 14, 2020 at 7:03 PM.
Karl Smith made a motion to accept Governor Baker's Executive Order allowing for remote meetings. Note that in light of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, Governor Baker issued an emergency Order on March 12, 2020, allowing public bodies greater flexibility in utilizing technology in the conduct of meetings under the Open Meeting Law. This committee makes a motion to accept this Executive Order for this meeting of the Governance Committee, on April 14, 2020.
Cynthia Canavan seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Elizabeth Burns
Aye
Stephen Veiga
Absent
Jeanne Smith
Aye
Karl Smith
Aye
Cynthia Canavan
Aye
Peter Cohen
Aye
Paul Baker
Aye
Kay O'Dwyer
Aye
Christopher Riegle
Aye

C.

Approve Minutes

Not all members were able to review the minutes, therefore the vote to approve previous meetings' minutes has been deferred.

D.

Approve Minutes

Not all members were able to review the minutes, therefore the vote to approve previous meetings' minutes has been deferred.

II. Review By Laws Draft

A.

Review draft of by laws

The group reviewed the draft By Laws in detail.  After some 'housekeeping' items and minor wording updates, the committee focused their attention on the Governance Committee section and whether the Chair of that sub-committee is required to be a member of the Board of Trustees.
The team is evenly divided between members that believe the Chair should be a member of the Board and those that feel being a board member should not be a requirement.
 
Karl Smith made a motion to Accept the re-worded section 2 - article 6 as proposed "The Chair of the Committee shall be chosen from among the current Trustees, or a Governance Committee Member approved by the board.".
Paul Baker seconded the motion.
The motion did not carry.
Roll Call
Cynthia Canavan
No
Christopher Riegle
No
Stephen Veiga
Absent
Kay O'Dwyer
No
Jeanne Smith
No
Elizabeth Burns
Absent
Paul Baker
Aye
Peter Cohen
Aye
Karl Smith
Aye
Cynthia Canavan made a motion to Update the wording to have the governance committee elect its own chair.
Kay O'Dwyer seconded the motion.
Note: point of clarification was made that the Board of Trustees has ultimate authority to accept or update the wording.  This is merely a proposal.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Kay O'Dwyer
Aye
Karl Smith
No
Peter Cohen
No
Jeanne Smith
Aye
Stephen Veiga
Absent
Paul Baker
Aye
Christopher Riegle
Aye
Elizabeth Burns
Absent
Cynthia Canavan
Aye
Additional point of clarification discussed.  It is unclear to the group as to whether the Head of School has the ability to vote or not on the Governance committee.
Unclear as to if Peter's vote should be included.  This point to be included in next month's discussion.
Karl Smith made a motion to Send the most up to date version- By-laws working copy "BYLAWS Working Copy.2020-April 14" to school counsel for review.
Cynthia Canavan seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Stephen Veiga
Absent
Kay O'Dwyer
Aye
Jeanne Smith
Aye
Christopher Riegle
Aye
Paul Baker
Aye
Karl Smith
Aye
Cynthia Canavan
Aye
Elizabeth Burns
Absent

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Karl Smith
Karl Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Cynthia Canavan seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Elizabeth Burns
Absent
Stephen Veiga
Absent
Karl Smith
Aye
Kay O'Dwyer
Aye
Peter Cohen
Aye
Christopher Riegle
Aye
Jeanne Smith
Aye
Cynthia Canavan
Aye
Paul Baker
Aye
Documents used during the meeting
None