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| Michael L. Kinch, At-Large | |
| Council President | |
| James K. Metivier, District 1 | Scott R. Schmitt, District 4 |
| Council Member | Council President, Pro Tem |
| Timothy C. Magill Jr., District 2 | Robert G. Shaw, Jr., District 5 |
| Council Member | Council Member |
| Lisa A. Beaulieu, District 3 | Peter J. Bradley, At-Large |
| Council Member | Council Member |
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023, at 6:30 P.M.
CUMBERLAND TOWN HALL, EVERETT “MOE” BONNER, JR. COUNCIL CHAMBERS
45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND
CALL TO ORDER 
The regular meeting was called to order at 6:30pm with a roll call of members.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
In person: President Kinch, Councilors Bradley, Shaw, Magill, Metivier, Schmitt and Beaulieu.
Also present—Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Solicitor; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; School Committee Chair Karen Freedman
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
OLD BUSINESS
A. NOMINATIONS AND VOTE TO APPOINT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE fulfilling Paul DiModica’s term, to expire November 2024
1. Corey Blais
3. Heather Chea
8. Peter Fiore
10. Timothy Iwuc
12. Caleb Jacobson
13. Lisa O’Connell
14. Brian Plouffe
15. Amy S. Vogel
16. Paul A. Young, Jr.
President Kinch offered a potential selection process that was a blend of what was discussed at the previous meeting:
1. Each Council member may nominate a candidate for the School Committee vacancy. This will result in a maximum of seven finalists, or fewer finalists if multiple Council members select the same candidate. If four Council members nominate the same candidate at any time during the nomination process, the Town Council will stop the nomination process and place the candidate for a vote before the Town Council.
2. Depending on the number of finalists selected by the members of the Town Council, each Town Council member will rank the finalists as follows: if there are seven candidates, each nominee will be ranked one (1) through seven (7) points with seven points being the highest ranking. If there are six candidates, they will be ranked one through six (6), with six points being the highest ranking; etc.
3. After the Town Council members have ranked the candidates, the Town Clerk will read the name of the finalist, and each Town Council member will state the number that they have assigned to that finalist. The Town Clerk will total up the numbers of each candidate that have been given by members of the Council. At the end of that process, the top two finalists and/or ties with the most points will be placed in front of the Town Council for a vote for the appointment.
4. Per the town charter, the selection from the finalists will be done by ballot; the Town Clerk will issue each Council member a paper that will act as a ballot, and the Councilor will write the following information on the ballot: the finalist/nominee’s name that they have selected, and the Councilor’s name. This process will continue until the Town Council gets four votes for one individual.
Councilor Shaw proposed modifying step three to say that after the Town Council members have ranked the candidates on the ballot, the Town Clerk shall collect the ballots, tally the numbers and read the totals.
MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE SCORING METHOD AS AMENDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW. VOTE 7/0
Councilor Schmitt reminded the Councilors that at the last meeting he had suggested consulting Roberts Rules of Order for guidelines on a ranking system of voting. He found that this specific situation is not addressed in that book.
Councilor Shaw gave remarks recommending Amy Vogel for the position.
The Councilors marked their top candidate for round one. The Town Clerk collected their papers and read the results:
Councilor Bradley – Tim Iwuc
Councilor Magill – Tracey Cook
Councilor Shaw – Amy Vogel
Councilor Kinch – Jim Higgins
Councilor Metivier – Amy Vogel
Councilor Beaulieu – Amy Vogel
Councilor Schmitt – Paul Young
The Clerks returned the sheets to the Council to rank their selections and again collected them.
Councilor Beaulieu made remarks about the choice of impressive candidates and voiced her support for Amy Vogel.
The Town Clerk read the total number of points for each candidate into the record.:
Tracey Cook – 28 points
Jim Higgins – 13 points
Timothy Iwuc – 20 points
Amy Vogel – 25 points
Paul Young – 19 points
Tracey Cook and Amy Vogel are the top two candidates.
The Town Clerk returned the sheets to the Councilors for a third round, and subsequently read the choice of each Council Member:
Councilor Bradley – Tracey Cook
Councilor Magill – Tracey Cook
Councilor Shaw – Amy Vogel
Councilor Kinch – Tracey Cook
Councilor Metivier – Amy Vogel
Councilor Beaulieu – Amy Vogel
Councilor Schmitt – Amy Vogel
President Kinch congratulated Ms. Vogel and thanked all the candidates and the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
School Committee Chair Karen Freedman thanked the Council for their time and effort in this process. She expressed her gratitude to all the candidates, whom she considers the next generation of School Committee candidates. She is excited and hopeful for the future.
Ms. Vogel thanked everyone for their support. She is honored and grateful and thinks all the candidates amazing.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS METIVIER & MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 6:56PM. VOTE 7/0
______________________________
Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk
FOR A FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO RECORDING ACCESSIBLE ON THE TOWN’S WEBSITE, www.cumberlandri.org.