CHM 05/24/1977 CHARTER COMMISSION
MEETING
May 24, 1977
MEMBERS PRESENT: Clifford Ash, Elaine Knoff, Jackie Johnson., Kenneth Brennen,
John Swanson, Charles Langer, Jean Schell, Walt Starwalt,
Arne Takkunen
MEMBERS ABSENT: Raymond Sheridan, Jerry Ratcliff, Robert O'Neill, Ray McPherson,
David Berg, Tim F. Kreider
OTHERS PRESENT: Marvin Brunsell, Finance Director
CALL TO ORDER:
Mr. Ash called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. , May 24, 1977.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Brennan, seconded by Mr. Langer, that minutes of Charter Commission
meetings of January 18, February 15, March 15 and April 19, 1977 be approved.
Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Ash
explained reason for backlog on approval of above minutes was lack of quorum
due to dramatic drop in Commission meeting attendance after completion of
Charter changes in January of this year.
1. SWEAR IN NEW APPOINTEES:
Mr. Ash asked Marvin Brunsell to swear in new appointees to Charter Commission
present at this meeting, whereupon Mr. Brunsell administered oath of office to the
following: Jean Schell, Walt Starwalt, Arne Takkunen; and those reappointed
to office: John Swanson, Kenneth Brennen, Charles Langer.
2. RECEIVE REPRINTED CHARTER:
Mr. Ash stated that all members should now have a copy of the new Charter
of the City of Fridley as reprinted and recorded January 1977. He reviewed
briefly some of the background on Charter changes, stating that during the
February meeting there was a Committee report of new items which the
Commission wished to review, and on which they would be holding hearings.
Mr. Ash recommended that all members have a copy of the new Charter, if they
had not already been provided one. We are not limited to suggestions for
changes outlined in February meeting, he stated, and asked all Commission
members to review the Charter and those changes and think about any recommend-
ations they might have for change before the Commission meets again in
September.
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, May 24, 1977 Page 2.
Mr. Ash stated that at the September meeting a Committee for Review of
Charter will be appointed to refine suggestions outlined in February
minutes and to consider and/or add recommended changes that members might
have at that time. Commission will then set a timetable for hearings,
with meetings to be arranged with City administration, public, civic
leaders, City Council etc. , with one meeting per each group to be scheduled.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
Mr. Ash asked if any of the members had questions abcut past activities
of Charter Commission? He briefly reviewed past two years activities and
specifically brought up suggestions that had been made re ombudsman; ex-
tent of power of Commission to act in behalf of private citizen or group
who feel provisions of Charter have not been observed, and funding for
any legal fees contingent thereto.
Another thing that has been suggested and will be discussed in the Fall is
a plan for Commission members to attend Council meetings on a rotating basis
in order to get first-hand information on how Council operates and if they
do in fact follow the Charter -- in other words, a kind of watch-dog com-
mittee of perhaps two people each month to Council meetings.
Section 205 has been under study by Commission also. This section requires
a special election if someone were to resign - say in September - then
a special election would have to be held between then and January to fill
the spot. This Section 205 came via special election and was not proposed
by Charter Commission.
Mr. Ash reminded members that Commission does not meet during the months of
June, July and August, and that it will reconvene the third Tuesday of
September, September 20, with meetings falling on the third Tuesday of
the month thereafter unless otherwise specified.
For general information, Mr. Ash indicated that references to Charter in
February minutes are to the old Charter, but he thought that those references
would similarly apply to reprinted Charter.
MOTION by Mr. Brennan for adjournment at 8:15 p.m. Motion seconded and
passed unanimously by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
e na ore
Recording Se retary