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Charter Commission -1- 04/23/2015
Brooklyn Center Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2015
Called to order by Chair Goodell at 6:32 p.m.
Roll Call: Acting Secretary Gary Brown called the roll. Present were Mark Goodell, Gail
Ebert, Myrna Kragness Kauth, Harold Middleton, Robert Marvin, Judy Thorbus, and Mark
Yelich. Mary O’Connor arrived at 6:35 p.m. Excused was Stan Leino. Not present was
Zachary Marko.
The agenda was adopted as amended. A third item was added to new business. It concerns
passing a technical amendment to Chapter 6, Subdivision 3 of the Charter.
Approval of Minutes: Gary Brown made a motion to approve the minutes of January 15, 2015,
and Judy Thorbus seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business:
a. The pending Charter amendments were published in the Sun Post Newspaper last week.
They will be effective July 1, 2015.
New Business:
a. We discussed amending the Charter to require a write-in candidate to request their votes
be counted. We will ask City Clerk Sharon Knutson to attend our next meeting to
explain it more fully.
b. We discussed a Charter amendment explaining how a cemetery could be conveyed to our
City. There was discussion about Mound Cemetery which allowed Brooklyn Center to
use part of its land for a park. The cemetery wants the land back but the City is balking.
c. Gary Brown made a motion and Harold Middleton made the second to amend Chapter
6.02, Subdivision 3 of the Charter, as follows:
Section 6.02. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CITY MANAGER.
Subdivision 3. (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this
Subdivision, tThe City Manager shall appoint, upon the basis of merit and fitness and
may suspend or remove upon the basis of merit and fitness, and upon the provisions of all
applicable ordinances, all officers and employees of the City, except the City Attorney,
whose appointment and removal shall be at the discretion of the Council.
The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Goodell will submit this amendment to us first and then to City staff.
He will have the revised Charter sent to us.
Charter Commission -2- 04/23/2015
Someone questioned whether 15 members are required on our Charter Commission. The answer
was that it is decided by the Court.
Chair Goodell presented an award to Myrna Kauth which the City gave for her perfect
attendance.
Mary O’Connor suggested a correction to the January 15, 2015, minutes. Stan Leino informed
her there was a quorum before Judy Thorbus arrived. It was generally agreed to make this
correction, but it was not voted on.
The meeting adjourned about 7:05 P.M.
Mary O’Connor
Secretary