Minutes

Ordinance Review Committee · from the Town's website · 3 pages · 40 KB
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12/3/2025 ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Summary: 
Ordinance Review & Update Process 
● Reviewed process for amending ordinances: ORC recommends changes → Council
→ relevant subcommittees for debate and amendments. Any Council member,
board, committee, or resident may propose an ordinance change.
● Zoning amendments must go through a Planning Board public hearing before
Council action. 
Documentation & Municode Issues 
● Noted missing, outdated, or incorrect ordinances in Municode. The Clerk’s office is
actively working with Municode to resolve issues.
● Some updated ordinances (e.g., parking, short-term rentals) will be added to the
new system, with website disclaimers about potential outdated content while the
Clerk’s office works with Municode.
● Department heads should submit ordinance ideas or issues rather than drafting
language; legal staff will refine proposals. 
Parking Regulations & Enforcement 
● Ongoing challenges with parking enforcement and clarity of rules (driveways,
metered areas, multi-unit properties, residential permits).
● Reviewed meter tampering issues, street sweeping timing, and residents’ confusion
about when to move cars after sweeping. The ordinance states cars should remain
off the streets until after 3:00pm. Considered whether certain issues are public
education vs. ordinance changes.
● Discussed Revere’s ordinance denying parking stickers for 6+ unit buildings and its
potential legal concerns.
● Discussed the use of tech tools (e-meters, license plate readers, payment apps)
and associated costs.

Parking Requirements, Development, and CBD Issues 
● Current requirement of 2 off-street spaces per unit is often impractical in older
neighborhoods with small lots.
● High-cost CBD parking spaces ($20,000+) have seen very limited uptake. Consider
removing it when updating the parking ordinance.
● Parking for new developments, daycare facilities, and mixed-use buildings
continues to present challenges. 
Health & Safety Regulations 
● Identified overlaps and unclear responsibilities across multiple boards.
● Considered inviting the Board of Health to help reorganize and clarify roles.
● Discussed enforcement roles such as Bonnie Carroll’s work as tobacco control
officer.
● Need to align local ordinances with state law and the town charter. 
Governance Structure & Document Organization 
● Highlighted contradictions across town documents and the need for a clear
hierarchy.
● Discussed using technology or AI to identify redundant or conflicting rules.
● Suggested leveraging graduate students (e.g., Harvard Kennedy School) for analysis
and consulting at no cost.
● Goal to reduce legal expenses by improving document clarity and organization.

Parking Studies & Future Planning 
● Planning Board requested a new parking study for the Center Business District.
● Concerns that previous studies were outdated or included private property.
● Agreement to use parking as a pilot project before taking on broader governance
issues. 
Next Steps 
● Continue detailed parking discussions at the next meeting on December 11 .
● Prepare for a comprehensive ordinance review by April .
● Explore public hearings to gather community input on parking policy changes.