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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-011 CCRMember Robert Peppe introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2001-11 RESOLUTION DECLARING COMMITMENT TO THE BROOKLYN CENTER CITY CHARTER, PLEDGING FAIR TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES, DECLARING AGAINST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND MISUSE OF POSITIONS WHEREAS, Brooklyn Center voters in 1966 adopted a City Charter creating a Council/Manager form of government; and WHEREAS, said Charter provides that the City Council shall determine all matters of policy, and the City Manager shall be the head of the administrative branch of the City Government; and WHEREAS, the Charter provides that there be no separate administrative boards or commissions other than advisory boards or commissions; and WHEREAS, numerous advisory commissions have served the City since adoption of the Charter; and WHEREAS, the Charter provides for four Council members and a Mayor, all elected at large, with the Mayor entitled to a single vote as other Council members and who in addition serves as presiding officer of the Council and as official head of the City for ceremonial purposes; and WHEREAS, the Charter provides that "the Mayor shall study the operations of the City government and shall report to the Council any neglect, dereliction of duty, or waste on the part of any officer or department of the City"; and WHEREAS, the Charter provides that "the Council and the City Manager, or either of them, and any officer formally authorized by them, or either of them, shall have power to make investigations into the City's affairs, to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the production of books and papers"; and WHEREAS, the Charter provides that the City Manager shall control and direct all departments and divisions of the City and shall have the right to take part in Council discussion and shall recommend such measures as deemed necessary; and WHEREAS, the Charter prohibits Council members from dictating the appointment of any person to office or employment by the City Manager except as provided in Chapter 6 of this Charter; and RESOLUTION NO. 2001-11 WHEREAS, the Charter requires the Council to deal with and control the administrative service solely through the City Manager and prohibits any Council member from giving orders to any subordinate of the City Manager, either publicly or privately; and WHEREAS, the City Manager is charged by the Charter to see that the City Charter and the laws and resolutions of the City are enforced; and WHEREAS, the Council as a whole also has an obligation to police its own conduct and to ensure that its business is conducted pursuant to the City Charter and the norms of acceptable and courteous business behavior; and WHEREAS, Council members must depend upon the City Manager and staff to provide them with a great amount of background information, data, and expertise to aid in deliberating issues, developing policy, and administering the Council's responsibilities; and WHEREAS, the effectiveness of the services provided by the staff is in large part determined by a relationship of trust and mutual respect between the staff and the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council: 1. To rededicate itself to the spirit and letter of the City Charter, and to call to account any of its members who ignore the spirit and letter of the City Charter. 2. To rededicate itself to the checks and balances of the City Charter that keep City government accountable and to reaffirm its commitment to the first amendment rights of the U.S. Constitution. 3. To pledge that no employees suffer recriminations, abuse or humiliation for acting in a forthright, proper, honest, and candid manner in performing their responsibilities. 4. To discharge its responsibilities as intended and established by federal, state, and local laws and the City Charter, and to do so in a fair and impartial manner. Any City officials or employees, elected or appointed, who engage in conflict of interest or who use their positions in a self-serving manner, having the effect of promoting their own financial interest or the financial interest of a friend, associate, business employer, or relative instead of the public interest, shall be subject to censure by the City Council. RESOLUTION NO. 2001-11 5. To direct the City Manager to place this resolution for readoption on the agenda for the first meeting of the City Council each January hereafter, as information and reminder of Council/Manager responsibilities. January 8, 2001 Date Mayor ATTESTJWW~ / atg. City Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Kay Lasman and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Myrna Kragness, Kay Lasman, Fd Nelson and Robert Peppe; and the following voted against the same: none; whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.