HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 01-19 CHCMBrooklyn Center Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2017
Called to order by Chair Mark Goodell at 6:34 p.m.
Roll Call:
Chair Mark Goodell called the roll.
Present:
• Mawuli Blabuh
• Donald Bumgarner
• Gail Ebert
• Mark Goodell
• Stan Leino
• Robert Marvin
• Mary O’Connor
• Beverly Rieschl
• Judy Thorbus
Absent:
• Mark Yelich
• Michael Elliott
Rick Brack was a visitor.
The agenda was adopted with a motion by Robert Marvin and a second by Stan Leino.
Approval of Minutes:
Chair Goodell made the following change to Section a of New Business. He deleted:
"Chair Goodell will ask our city clerk and our city attorney to attend our next meeting. He will
also get a copy of the letter that Robert Marvin mentioned." and replaced it with the following:
Chair Goodell will ask our city clerk for the following information:
1. a copy of the Election Judge Handbook for Brooklyn Center.
2. a copy of a ruling that the city attorney made regarding assisting voters in the voting
booth that a commissioner said was referred to by city staff.
3. is the Election Judge Handbook used in Brooklyn Center different from the state version?
4. if different, how was the Brooklyn Center version developed?
5. did the city attorney assist in drafting the city handbook?
This correction to the minutes was moved by Robert Marvin and seconded by Gail Ebert. The
motion passed.
Recognition of Commissioner Gary Brown:
Since former Commissioner Gary Brown was not present, Stan Leino made a motion that Chair
Mark Goodell should contact Gary Brown to find out how he wants to receive his recognition.
Robert Marvin seconded the motion and it passed.
Charter Commission -2- 01/19/2017
Audit Report:
Judy Thorbus has not received the Audit Report yet.
Election of Officers:
Since Mark Yelich had not arrived, Stan Leino made a motion to postpone the vice-chair election
until 7 p.m. Robert Marvin gave the second and the motion passed. Stan Leino made a motion
to reelect the slate of current officers except vice-chair with their approval. Gail Ebert gave the
second. The current officers gave their approval. The motion passed.
Old Business:
a. Cemetery conveyances:
Stan Leino found no charters dealing with cemeteries. Gail Ebert mentioned that Mound
Cemetery is not owned by the City.
b. Commission inquiries about Brooklyn Center Election Judge Guide:
Chair Mark Goodell relayed answers he received from City Clerk Sharon Knutson to his
requests and questions as follows:
1. a copy of the Election Judge Handbook for Brooklyn Center.
City Clerk Knutson left copies of the Election Judge Handbook in our meeting
room. They were passed around.
2. a copy of a ruling that the city attorney made regarding assisting voters in the
voting booth that a commissioner said was referred to by city staff.
City Clerk Knutson said there is no copy of a ruling from a city attorney regarding
assisting voters in the voting booth. She provided information from state statute
and from the Secretary of State's Election Judge Voting Guide.
3. is the Election Judge Handbook used in Brooklyn Center different from the state
version?
City Clerk Knutson said the 2016 Election Judge Guide used in Brooklyn Center
was created by Hennepin County Elections Division incorporating the Secretary
of State Election Judge Guide.
4. if different, how was the Brooklyn Center version developed?
City Clerk Knutson said it was created by Hennepin County Elections Division
for our use.
5. did the city attorney assist in drafting the city handbook?
Charter Commission -3- 01/19/2017
City Clerk Knutson said she is not aware that Brooklyn Center city attorney
provided any assistance with the Election Guide.
Stan Leino made a motion we:
1. get from the City any legal research re: assisting voters in elections
2. get, by one of us commissioners, a copy of the Secretary of State's Election Judge
Voter's Guide.
The motion was seconded by Donald Bumgarner. The motion passed.
Donald Bumgarner stated he has a copy of the Secretary of State's Election Judge Voter's Guide.
Election of Officers:
Mark Yelich has not arrived. Gail Ebert made a motion that we table the vice-chair election until
next meeting. Robert Marvin gave a second. The motion passed.
New Business:
Set up meeting dates for new year:
Stan Leino made a motion that we meet at 6:30 p.m. on:
April 20, 2017
July 20, 2017
October 19, 2017
January 18, 2018
Robert Marvin gave a second. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.
Mary O’Connor
Secretary