It was a relatively simple but nonetheless important meeting Thursday when Town Moderator Claire Smith held a "mock Town Meeting" to go through each item on the agenda for the Oct. 27 Fall Town Meeting.

The Town Moderator met with the Finance Committee, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan, Town Attorney Richard Bowen and Selectman Peter Teitelbaum. The group heard comments from the public on Town Meeting items before going through the full Town Meeting agenda (The Warrant).

The most vocal discussion was on an item seeking to amend the Wareham Wetland Protective Bylaw to make sure it does not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Much of the discussion on the item has centered on a project to create a walking path through the wetlands from Burgess Point Road to Onset Bay.

Bill Clemmey and his attorney Adam Brodsky argued that the ADA does not apply to by-laws regulating the use and protection of wetlands located on private property. The Clemmeys own property on Winship Avenue that abuts the walking path project. While Clemmey told town officials the amendment was flawed, Bowen said voters at Town Meeting shouldn't look at specific cases but at the question of general legislation and whether it was a good idea or not.

Most of the items were read over with a brief explanation, small clarifications and little debate. One item that fostered discussion among officials was a proposal to amend the Sewer Commissioner law.

In May, Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill to establish an elected, unpaid, five-member Board of Sewer Commissioners (a measure that was passed by Town Meeting last year).

The amendment item on the Fall Town Meeting agenda clarifies that the Town Administrator is to be charge of labor relations issues, while the Sewer Commissioners will retain authority of the sewer plans, policies, rates, etc.

A minority of Finance Committee members argued that the amendment was an attempt by the Selectmen to wrestle control of the sewer department away from the new commissioners.

Bowen assured dissenters that regardless of whether the amendment is passed or not, it will have no effect on the elections for the new set of Sewer Commissioners set to be held on April 1.

The group went over other items on the agenda such as the rededication of a controversial parcel of land on Swifts Beach, future Swifts beach sewer projects and the future of the Community Events Committee.

A previous story on other Town Meeting articles can be found here.

The Town Warrant can be viewed in full here. A video of the meeting will be made available on the WCTV youtube channel. Fall Town Meeting is Monday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Wareham High School.