05/01/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 5/1/2001 _. Councilman McKay, chairperson of the Finance Committee: 1) The committee met on ~_~ Monday, April 30. Present were committee members McKay, Limpert and O'Grady; Councilpersons Nashar, Kesler, Miller and Council President Saringer; Service Director Bohlmann, Safety Director Jenkins and Finance Director Copfer. Agenda items were: Ordinance 2001-59 which provides for the sale of notes in the amount of $350,000 to acquire a fire pumper and other related fire apparatus and equipment. The notes will be paid off in three years with the funds coming from the hoteUmotel tax. The committee recommended approval. Resohition 2001-50, which authorizes the Service Director to advertise for bids for leaf pick up for the city for the next three years. The committee recommended approval. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 1) Patricia Deis, 26893 Sweetbrier Drive. • Asked for clarification on how the various Council members are distributed among the committees. It is her understanding that this is done by seniority. President Saringer said that was correct. Council holds an organizational meeting and the most senior person has his/her choice and it moves down the list. Minority party members have the option to choose a committee on which to serve. • Mrs. Deis said she was not aware of any amendment that specifically limits or designates that each committee meeting contain three members of Council. Is it against the City Charter for these committees to contain a larger amount of Council members per committee? President Saringer said there are three members on each committee. Some members of Council chair more than one committee. Mrs. Deis suggested that procedure be reviewed as the three-person committee may set up the perception perhaps that there could be an abuse of power situation where two Council members could be in opposition to a third Council member and block the effectiveness of that committee. Perhaps committees of four to six members would be more equitable. President Saringer explained that Rules of Council #13 states that each committee shall consist of three members of whom the first shall be named chairperson. No Council member shall hold a committee chairmanship for more than four consecutive years. Council does have the ability to amend the rules. Mrs. Deis said it was her observation that it might be more equitable if the committees contained more than three people. • Mrs. Deis stated that she wished to thank Safety Director Jenkins for his attempts to solve the situation that exists on Sweetbrier. Today, a bicycle policeman was in the area, and she applauds Mr. Jenkins' choice. In response to Mrs. Deis' comments, Mr. Limpert noted that it is not unusual for minority committee reports to be given. Also, all members of Council are welcome to participate in committee meetings. 6 -„ ,~_~.