HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988 01-27 CHCME
BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 27, 1988
7 P. M.
CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dennis Kueng at 7:05 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Allen Anderson, Marie Castle, Benjamin Chatelle, Ron Christensen, Edward
Commers, Donn Escher, Mary Heitzig, Tony Kuefler, Dennis Kueng, John
Lescault, Jean Schiebel, Barb Sexton
Members absent and excused: Mona Hintzman, Everett Lindh, Neal Smeaton
Also present: Phil Cohen
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Notion by Ben Chatelle, seconded by Allen Anderson to approve the minutes of November 18,
1987, as submitted. Passed unanimously.
ANNUAL REPORT
Motion by Tony Kuefler, seconded by Jean Schiebel, that the Annual Report be accepted as
mailed. Motion passed unanimously.
AUDIT REPORT
Motion by Allen Anderson, seconded by Tony Kuefler, that the Audit Report be accepted as
mailed. Passed unanimously.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT
Ben Chatelle, chair of the nominating committee, reported the following nominations:
Chairperson: Mary Heitzig; Vice Chairperson: Donn Escher; Secretary: Barbara Sexton
Chairman Kueng asked three times for additional nominations and none were made, Mary Heitzig
then chaired the meeting.
APPOINTMENTS
Jean Schiebel was appointed Audit Chairman, Ed Commers was appointed Public Relations
Chairperson. Neil Smeaton will be contacted to serve as Rules Parliamentarian.
BUSINESS
.OLD Rules of Procedure:
A letter from Charles LeFevere, city attorney, was read. He saw no problem with the proposed
language changes. Mailing of notices, agendas, and minutes are not required unless requested
by an organization or individual. He also stated that when an issue arises which warrants
greater public notice, that most public bodies provide for whatever notice it believes is
best to inform those people and/or organizations; having a maintained list of those people
organizations in the city would be most helpful in situations such as this.
*Study f Ward SvsIaM:
John Lescault introduced the ward system. He feels a councilmember should be accountable to
citizens in his area. Candidates for office would represent their area, Ben Chatelle stated
that Brooklyn Center has 30,000 people and that a city of this size does not need a ward
system. If you don't get along with your representative, you're dead, (Examples: U.S.
Congress and City of Minneapolis,) Ron Christensen said that the ward system is divisive.
Tony Kuefler stated that Brooklyn Center is the size of a Minneapolis ward. Jean Schiebel
said the city was big enough and stated that the City of St. Peter (population of 10,000) has
had two wards some years back. Dennis Kueng asked, "Does it do a better job for the citizens
of Brooklyn Center?" Tony Kuefler said that ward systems pit one ward against another,
Marie Castle asked, "What would be a suggested division of the city?" Donn Escher who served
on Brooklyn Center's original Charter Commission, said that at that time for each argument
for the ward system, there was an argument against it. In depth research is needed. John
Lescault stated that there was no competition for office; there was a 20% annual turnover in
the city's apartments, and voter lethargy among apartment dwellers.
Chair Mary Heitzig stated that the committee on the ward system should check structure of
ities of like size to Brooklyn Center and length of time with the ward system. She
appointed Ed Commers as chair of the study committee, and John Lescault, Barb Sexton, Tony
Kuefler, and Marie Castle. Ed Commers will check over material in the commission's files on
the ward system for timeliness, then material will be mailed out to all commissioners,
REV BUSINESS
Motion by Dennis Kueng, seconded by Donn Escher that Carole Blowers' pay be raised to $12.50
per hour. Motion carried unanimously.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next Charter Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 1988, at 7 P.M.
The sub committee on the ward system will give a preliminary report.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by John Lescault, seconded by Dennis Kueng to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Sexton, Secretary
(Typed by Carole Blowers, Administrative Assistant)
Chair: Mary Heitzig
&ecretary: Barb Sexton -2- 1-27-87