Committee Report - Leg Matters - 4-2-12 — File 192804

April 2, 2012 Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 3 Printed 4/12/2012 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Rebekah Gewirtz Chair Present John M Connolly Vice Chair Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present Omar Boukili Administrative Assistant Present Frank Wright City Solicitor Present Doug Cress Health Department Present Dave Shapiro Asst. City Solicitor Present 192468 - That the City Clerk and the City Solicitor draft appropriate language to create a local ordinance concerning the issuance of Fortune Teller licenses.: Mr. Shapiro provided a draft ordinance pertaining to the issuance of fortune teller licenses and noted that the proposed application process would require that a CORI check be performed. Mr. Shapiro will confer with the City Clerk to ascertain whether CORI checks are required for any other licenses issued by the city. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 192528 - That the City Solicitor immediately draft a City Ordinance for the licensing of food trucks.: Mr. Shapiro presented a proposed ordinance pertaining to the licensing of food trucks. At the committee's request, Mr. Shapiro will investigate the possibility of issuing one day licenses to hawkers and mobile vendors and will add a provision to the ordinance that all vendors be properly registered as vendors. There was a discussion about the Board of Aldermen's authority to limit locations where vendors may operate and Mr. Shapiro will research this matter and provide recommendations to the committee.

Committee Meeting April 2, 2012 Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 3 Printed 4/12/2012 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192656 - That this Board offers its support of the 5th Annual White Ribbon Day campaign, advocating against domestic violence.: This item was discuss along with item 192707 (below). RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192682 - City Clerk conveying a Determination from the Attorney General re: the Open Meeting Law and participation at committee meetings.: The committee requested clarification on a recent determination by the Attorney General regarding the state’s Open Meeting Law having to do with aldermen who are not members of a specific committee being involved in deliberations of said committee. Essentially, the ruling dictates that an alderman who is not a member of a specific committee may only participate as a member of the public would. Alderman White’s motion that the City Solicitor provide written guidance to the Board of Aldermen, (for possible inclusion in the Rules of the Board of Aldermen), regarding the conduct of members at meetings and what they may or may not do, was approved. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192705 - Requesting to discuss with this Board the status of Responsible Employer Ordinances in the State, in light of the UCANE v. Fall River case.: The committee will take this matter up in Executive Session at the next Board of Aldermen meeting. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 192707 - That the City Solicitor research existing domestic violence ordinances in other communities and prepare a report for this Board’s Committee on Legislative Matters.: Mr. Shapiro discussed allowing city employees time off to deal with the ramifications of domestic violence. Alderman Sullivan, speaking as a member of the public, referenced a bill pending in the MA Senate, (S-918), that would allow employees to take up to 15 days of leave from work in any 12 month period to deal with domestic abuse issues and he urged the City Administration to develop a specific policy to help its employees who are victims of domestic abuse. A suggestion was made to invite a representative from the Administration and the Personnel Director to a future committee meeting to discuss development and enactment of a domestic abuse policy.

Committee Meeting April 2, 2012 Legislative Matters Committee Page 3 of 3 Printed 4/12/2012 Alderman White’s motion that the Mayor and the Director of Personnel inform the Committee on Legislative Matters of the city’s intentions regarding the development of a domestic violence policy for city employees, was approved. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE