CHM 02/18/1975 i
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
•
February 18, 1975
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ray Sheridan, Herbert Bacon, Ole Bjerkesett, Edythe Collins,
Harry Crowder, Jackie Johnson, Elaine Knoff, Peg McChesney,
Roy McPherson, Jerry Ratcliffe
MEMBERS ABSENT: • Clifford Ash, Francis Casey, Jack Kirkham, Robert O'Neill,
Donald Wegler
Chairman Ray Sheridan opened the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
MOTION BY HERB BACON TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING AS RECEIVED.
Seconded by Ole Bjerkesett.
Mr. Sheridan read a memo to the Commission from Marvin C. Brunsell, City Clerk,
dated February 11th, which expressed his feeling that this week should be the
last ditch effort to give him sufficient time to print up ballots and publications
for the special election being held on March 25th. The reason being that
information will be needed for absentee ballots which of course have to be mailed
prior to the time of the election.
Mr. Sheridan stated that he had drafted up a letter to be sent to the Honorable
Judge Gillespie considering the court to appoint persons to fill the vacancies
of two year a nil four.year term members. Lists would be made up indicating
active members to continue on the Commission and names desiring to. serve again.
Also, those persons who indicated an interest in the work of the Commission who
would serve if appointed. The Commission has advised the City Council of
vacancies and suggest they might also submit the names of people who would work.
Hopefully, these names would be of help to the court. A copy of the list of
vacancies will be sent to the City Clerk.
The letter was open for discussion. •
Peg McChesney recalled that there are two people who's terms will be up which
should be pointed out in the letter. She also relayed the opinion of Jack
Kirkham, Clifford Ash, and Robert O'Neill to be replaced from their two year
terms on the Charter Commission. Elaine Knoff suggested the letter be revised
to say that the total number of the eight two year term positions expire.
this month.
Jackie Johnson submitted to Mr. Sheridan a letter-of interest to serve on the
Commission by Mrs. Karen Johnson. Mr. Sheridan also suggested Mr. Ken Brennin.
MOTION BY OLE BJERKESETT STATING THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION
WISHING TO SUBMIT A NAME TO FILL WHATEVER VACANCIES MAY OCCUR ON THE CHARTER
COMMISSION, SUBMIT THOSE NAMES TO THE CHAIRMAN NO LATER THAN THE 24th OF
FEBRUARY. Seconded by Edythe Collins. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Mr. Sheridan referred back to the minutes of the last meeting to a motion made
by Herb Bacon and seconded by Elaine Knoff, that the Council consider each
individual ammendment on its own merit, voted upon singly and those they cannot
vote upon bring back to the Charter Commission with their reasons why.
Page 2
Mr. Sheridan reported that while at a City Council meeting, one of the members
requested that the Commission go over the proposed ammendments and screen them
out into two catagories, those that the Charter felt there was controversy on and
those that followed ordinances. Then give them to the Council so that they could
just act on those things that are in there just basically to clean the present
Charter up. Those that the Charter Commission thought the City Council might not
act upon, .could be set aside and put on the ballot for an election.
Elaine Knoff thought it impossible to regroup the ammendments. Ole Bjerkesett
felt that they should not have any ammendments put on the ballot for the
March 25th election, but to have them put on for the general election as a
revised Charter. Harry Crowder felt that they should still submit it to the
Council, if they approve it, fine. . .If they don't, then ask why. THEN, submit
the revised ammendments to the public for their vote. Ole said that whatever
we propose, it should be presented as a constructive change in the interest of the
taxpayer of Fridley, rather than a..political asterl. If they have objections
to it, fine. . .let us submit our recommendations to the Council for their criticism,
with that we can decide whether to revise or let it hang the way it is and we
still submit it as a revised Charter.
Mr. Sheridan stated that once it is acted upon, under the ordinance, then there
is a time period after which those changes become effective and a part of the
Charter. Any revisions may be made afterwards. Ole was concerned about the
changes that they do not approve. Mr. Sheridan felt that the Council should
have the opportunity to use the option of adopting as many as possible by
ordinance provision and then from there the Charter Commission can either review
it again and make additional changes if we think it is necessary, after some
additional input, or we can just take them and make a revised Charter and run it
through with one issue on a ballot or take whatever is left and put them on as
an individual issue on a ballot. If they turn them all down again, say OK, here
is our revised Charter instead of 24 separate issues.
It was agreed upon unanimously that the Charter should be submitted to the Council
after the special election of March 25th.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
a()Le-i2 (---' (0.--60C7t)
Recording Secretary