HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 23, 2002, MinutesCHARTER COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2002
7 P.M.
KEYES ROOM
JOHN P. MURZYN HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. by President Tami Ericson.
ROLL CALL
Members present: John Banyard, Bob Buboltz (7:20 p.m.), Charles Christopherson, Mel Collova,
Tami Ericson, Jim Fowler, Michael Hartel, Ted Landwehr, Tom Ramsdell, Joe
Sturdevant, Theresia Synowczynski
Members absent and unexcused: Bill Antzaras, Janis Larson
Members absent and excused: Clara Schmidt
Also present:
Carole Blowers, Recording Secretary; Council Liaison Bobby Williams
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Mike Hartel, seconded by Tom Ramsdell, to approve the minutes of the April 25, 2002 as
presented. Motion passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Recording Secretary or the President had no new correspondence to report.
OLD BUSINESS
City Open House
President Ericson thanked all the Charter Commission members who attended the City Open House at the
Public Works Garage on May 22, 2002, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the boards/commission table. Informational
copies about the Charter Commission in general were available at the open house. There were also copies
of each charter amendment (with current reading and proposed reading) for the public to have. There was
not a pros/cons sheet about the proposed amendments available by the time of the Open House.
Second Reading of Chapter 6, Section 53, Duties of the City Manager
At the last regular Charter Commission meeting, it was discovered that Chapter 6, Section 53 also referred
to the duties of the City Manager/Mayor but is not included as a referendum issue by the Charter
Commission to date. At that meeting, it was decided to send to the City Council the proposed ordinance
change on this chapter and section as well. A first reading at the commission level on the proposed
amendment was passed at last month's meeting. The main purpose of tonight's meeting is to hold the
second reading of this amendment.
The amendment as proposed reads as follows:
Section 53. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CITY MANAGER. Subject to the provisions of
this charter and any regulations consistent therewith which may be adopted by council, the city manager
shall control and direct the administration of the city's affairs,,.,.,~,.~,~'~ .... · ~,~,,,~ ~,~,,,~ ~,~,,,~,~1~ ~,~ .... ~,,,~,,~ ~,~ ~,,~
city m~ager's powers ~d duties shall be:
(a) To see that this charter ~d the laws, ordin~ces ~d resolutions of the city are
enforced;
(b) To appoint and, except as herein provided, remove the city clerk, all heads of
departments, and all subordinate officers and employees in the departments, all appointments to
be upon merit and fitness alone;
(c) To exercise control over all departments and divisions of the city administration
created by this charter or which may be hereafter created by the council .....
(d) To attend all meetings of the council, with the right to take part in the discussions
but having no vote; but the council may at its discretion exclude the city manager from meetings
at which the city manager's removal is considered;
(e) To recommend to the council for adoption such measures as the city manager may
deem necessary for the welfare of the people and the efficient administration of the city's affairs;
(f) To keep the council fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city,
and to prepare and to submit to the council the annual budget;
(g) To prepare and to submit to the council for adoption an administrative code
incorporating the details of administrative procedure, and from time to time to suggest
amendments to the same; and
(h) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this charter or required of the
city manager by ordinances or resolutions adopted by the council.
There was considerable discussion on this second reading. Commissioner Landwehr had prepared a sheet
with pros and cons on having the Mayor or the City Manager in control of the Police Depart-ment. This
information was handed out to the commissioners, and they reviewed the pros and cons.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hartel, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to approve the second
reading of Chapter 6, Section 53, and forward the proposed amendment to the City Council with the
understanding that if the council does not pass this amendment, it will also be placed on the ballot at the
next general election in 2002. (Note: This is the third section of the charter that will be affected by the
proposed change regarding the issue of the control of the police department. The other two sections of the
charter regarding this issue have already been sent to the council. They did not pass unanimously, and
therefore are already proposed to be on the ballot this fall. This action tonight is an attempt to make all
sections of the charter pertaining to this single issue corrected.)
Motion passed: 9 yes, 2 no, 0 abstaining.
NEW BUSINESS
A sub-committee of Mike Hartel, Ted Landwehr, Joe Sturdevant, Tami Ericson, Clara Schmidt, and Bruce
Nawrocki was formed to work on pros and cons of all three ballot questions for this fall. President
Ericson asked if members present tonight could stay briefly after this meeting to hold some discussion on
the above.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Thursday, July 18, 2002, at 7 p.m. at Murzyn Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mike Hartel, seconded by Tom Ramsdell, to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carole J. Blowers
Recording Secretary
5-23-02