August Meeting: Monday August 31st, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Kendra Fox
Hi Neighbors,
Our regular meeting will be held at 6:00 PM, at the Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. In person attendees, please plan to arrive at 5:30 PM - see below for details and proposed agenda.
As always, our regular meetings are hybrid and also held online via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85220522175?pwd=b92uXx6aRRNXdehZWGFZRQXogheZus.1
Meeting ID: 852 2052 2175
Passcode: 812425
**Additional note for August 31st meeting**
This month we will continue to address bylaws amendments, some previously introduced and not addressed at last month's meeting due to time limitations, and some new amendments announced at our July meeting. All bylaw amendments up for vote are described and individually linked in an updated voter guide, which was posted by Rebecca Rogers on August 10th.
As in July, there will be some provisions to help make this process accessible and productive. Please read the following in preparation for our meeting:
You are encouraged to discuss in advance of our meeting using our discussion group. Click here to access the discussion group.
We ask that you plan to arrive at 5:30 pm for our 6 pm meeting to allow time for check in.
Verified members will be provided red/green voting cards to hold up in favor or opposition. Non-members are welcome at the meeting, but will not vote. Please bring proof of address if you are unverified or unsure of your status
A QR code linking to the voter guide, as well as a few physical copies, and a handout primer on Robert's Rules of Order will be provided at the meeting for reference.
Based on feedback from last month, a Motion to Limit Debate will be made again for the bylaw amendments portion of this meeting. It must be adopted by a 2/3rds majority to take effect, and would set the rules for debate to:
Maximum 2 minutes per speaker
Maximum 12 minutes per amendment
Each person can only speak once per amendment
Alternate speakers for and against as possible
No secondary amendments (changes to the proposed text) except those already announced in the voter guide
No referrals to committee or postponements to a later time
If adopted, a 2/3rds majority would then be required for any Motion to Suspend the Rules to override any of these choices. The intention is to come relatively quickly to an up-or-down vote on all pending bylaw amendments. If members desire to pass a modified version of an amendment, they can explain while speaking against the amendment and vote "no" on adoption, then contact dsnc-...@googlegroups.com for consultation on next steps. This allows edits to be discussed by interested parties without using up general meeting time.
Please reach out to the board at dsnc-...@googlegroups.com with any questions about the upcoming meeting.
See you at the meeting,
Kendra Fox
Secretary
Agenda:
5:30 PM - Member sign in and verification
6:00 PM - Welcome & Intros (name, pronouns, street and/or connection with Davis Sq.)
6:10 PM - Approve minutes from the last meeting
6:11 PM - Report from the Treasurer - See linked budget spreadsheet
6:12 PM Brief statements from candidates in Nov. Election
City Councilor Matt McLaughlin, candidate for State Senate
Ben Ewen Campen, candidate for State Representative for 27th Middlesex
6:17- Updates on Projects and Priorities:
Brief remarks for pertinent updates
Update reports to be linked and shared via Google Group announcement
6:20 PM - Developments (also on website) updates as available
6:30 PM - Bylaw Amendments
Comments on the amendment process (Elaine)
Motion to limit debate (accepted with 2/3ds majority)
Maximum 2 minutes per speaker
Maximum 12 minutes per amendment
Each person can only speak once per amendment
Alternate speakers for and against as possible
No secondary amendments (changes to the proposed text) except those already announced in the voter guide
No referrals to committee or postponements to a later time
Bylaw amendments up for vote (Voting order may be adjusted)
Bylaws noticed and described in the published voter guide
Amendments announced in June and not taken up in July:
Community Benefits Agreements
Amendments 18A1.2-4 (Chris Beland, Ashish Shrestha) reduce the threshold to pass a CBA, from the current ⅔ majority to 60%, 55%, or 50%.
Amendment 18C1 (Ed Woll) requires at least ⅔ of verified DSNC members to vote (like a quorum requirement) on CBAs.
Amendment 54 (Ashish Shrestha; not referred to by the Bylaws Working Group) requires CBA votes be conducted “consistent” with board elections and specifies certain minimum requirements.
Miscellaneous
Amendment 16G (Zachary Yaro; not referred by the Bylaws Working Group) restores direct election of the treasurer and secretary, and simplifies Section 4.6 Voting Method.
Amendment D (Derrick Rice) makes clerical changes to section 3.1, primarily labeling the membership eligibility criteria for easier reference. It does not change the membership criteria.
Amendments noticed in July to be taken up in August:
- Peripheral Quorum
Amendment 60 (Lee Auspitz, Alex Dehnert) allows meetings to proceed without quorum, without substantive votes.
Amendment 32.5.1 (Alex Dehnert) makes clear that section 6.6’s quorum requirement applies to general and special meetings only.
- Quorum threshold
Amendment Q1 (Bylaws Working Group) raises the threshold from 8 to 20.
Amendments QX (Bylaws Working Group) bases quorum on attendance at the last three meetings. There are several different variants.
Amendment Q2 (Ed Woll) changes the threshold to 20% of DSNC members.
- Peripheral Quorum
7:55 PM - Updates on meetings since our last meeting (anyone who attended can provide an update to the rest of the group)
DSNC Fundraiser at Art’s Creamery July 30
Celebrating 250th Anniversary of America (Dilboy Post) July 30
National Night Out - Celebrate bringing police and community together Aug 4
TAC Meeting for Davis Square Neighborhood Plan Aug 11
Somerville Fermentation Festival Aug 16, 10-5PM
7:58 PM - Upcoming Community Meetings and events
Somerville Bicycle Advisory Meeting Sept 3,6:30PM
City Council Meetings Sept 10 and Sept 24, 7PM
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day! Sept 12 9AM
The Somerville Flea Sundays 10-4PM
Davis Square Farmer’s Market OPEN! Every Wed 12-6pm until Nov 25th
Somerville Mobile Farmer’s Market -
Four city locations, Thursdays through Saturdays, and runs through October 31.
Down in Davis: Every Friday night this summer, we’ll have live music in statue park!
7:59 PM - Motion to adjourn
8:00 PM - General meeting concludes.onclusion
Post Meeting Socializing at the Ballroom: Stay for a drink!
Community Meeting Reports: Have you attended any recent community meetings that might interest DSNC members? We invite you to share a brief report at our next meeting. To ensure these updates are informative and efficient:
Please prepare a written summary (2-3 paragraphs) in advance
Email your summary to the Secretary, Kendra Fox, (kendra...@gmail.com) for inclusion in the agenda.
Be ready to present a 2-3 minute overview at the meeting.