RTM Rules Committee 10-13-26

RTM Rules Committee 10-13-26 AGENDA: https://darienct.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2356/files/agenda/4184 This summary was generated by AI and has not been edited. For an edited summary, read DarienTV Weekly News Digest. Go to DarienTV.com to subscribe. 0:23 Agenda and Minutes Formats The town asked all boards to adopt a standard agenda and minutes format. "The motivation is basically to have uniformity," a staff member said. Moderator Seth Morton said, "I love the agenda we've got. It's flexible." Members said the town template lacks a format for virtual meetings. Members said the template also omits announcements. One member volunteered to revise the Appendix C templates. The committee voted unanimously to table the item. 12:26 RTM Member Guidelines Patty Bumgardner presented new guidelines for members, district chairs and committee chairs. She said some members lacked information at district and budget meetings. "RTM members should not arrive unprepared and expect to learn at the RTM meeting by presentations alone," it reads. Members asked for a cover note calling the document a work in progress. "This isn't the law. Read the law," one member said of the disclaimer. Members rejected a plan for district chairs to forward all agendas. "We shouldn't forward things just for the sake of forwarding them," Amy Zabetakis said. The guidelines will instead point members to the town's Notify Me sign-up. 36:14 Public Email to the RTM Public emails to the RTM address now go to district and committee chairs. "I think it is very problematic that people think they're emailing the full RTM," Zabetakis said. Those emails will now go to the moderator, vice chair and clerk. The website wording will change to match. Davis said chairs should not need moderator approval to distribute materials. 50:20 Budget Reports The moderator, not the town clerk, will send out committee budget reports. The change lets chairs finish reports over the weekend. Advance written reports will apply to the budget meeting only. The guidelines will ask the RTM to "consider" time limits for presenters. 1:09:59 District Votes The draft says district votes on new members must be public. Members asked whether town counsel's language is required or only recommended. Patty will seek clarification from town counsel. Appendix D will be trimmed to legal requirements only. 1:20:09 Guidelines Approved The committee unanimously approved the guidelines as amended. Members will receive them after the November election. "This document is so far down the road from anything we've ever had," one member said. 1:21:08 First Selectman's Recommendations Morton proposed a subcommittee to sort about 101 recommendations. Davis said F&B will review about 10 financial items first. Morton appointed Zabetakis, Davis and Per Sekse. "It's an all-star team," Morton said. 1:27:42 Committee Assignments Education is primary on the administrators union contract. F&B is secondary. An affordable housing trust fund nomination was dropped from the agenda. Zabetakis said the selectmen removed the fund's RTM representative. Davis said the RTM was excluded from the parking lot purchase. "This is not how we work in a transparent cooperative environment," Davis said. He said the RTM can attach conditions to any appropriation. 1:37:58 Upcoming Agendas The committee approved the Oct. 26 RTM agenda. Orientation sessions for district and committee chairs will follow. 1:56:35 Storm Losses Davis said town and BOE storm losses are tracked in separate accounts. He said any special appropriation is "probably a year out." 2:03:02 Farewell Members thanked Morton as he finishes his term as moderator. They gave him a fly box with hand-picked flies.