05-22-2008 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Charter Commission April 17, 2008 Page 3 DRAFT 89 Commission, with the exception of Timesavers, and by that time did not have enough funds to 90 pay the attorney. She advised that the attorney had now been paid up to date, but was upset that 91 they were not notified about this situation until the attorney notified her in the begining of 92 February. 93 94 Commissioner Dahl advised that she does forward the bills directly to City Hall. She thought 95 that if they were over budget by $500 they should have sent a smaller payment with an 96 explanation instead of not paying at all. She thought that the situation was handled poorly and 97 advised that she documented everything that occured in chronological order. 98 99 Chair Duffy advised that she went to City Hall and was only given half of the information that 100 she requested and stated that this is more of a housekeeping issue for the Commission. 101 102 Commissioner Lyden thought that they should be more proactive and also believed that the 103 Charter Commission should receive more money. He did not believe that the Charter 104 Commission should be caught in an embarrassing situation like that. 105 106 Commissioner Gunderson questioned if late charges acrued and also what the budget was for 107 2007. 108 109 Chair Duffy advised that the budget was $1,500 for 2007, but they had asked for an additional 110 $5,560. She advised that they also asked for an additional $5,000 in 2008 which would bring 111 that budget to $7,500. She stated that there were not any late charges for the attorney. 112 113 Commissioner Dahl advised that the $7,500 was not concrete. She stated that the Council did 114 approve the additional funds in September but the current budget is showing $5,700 not $6,500. 115 116 Commissioner Lyden questioned if they should have the attorney present at all the meetings until 117 they get through some of the bigger issues. He advised that the City Council has their legal 118 counsel present at their meetings and thought that the Charter Commission could benefit from 119 that as well. 120 121 Commissioner Dahl thought that it would be nice to have the attorney available for questions and 122 did not believe that her charges were outrageous. 123 124 Commissioner Zastrow thought that it would also be a good idea. He stated that the Commission 125 has a lot of big issues coming up and thought that it would be best to have the attorney present so 126 that they would know the answers immediately and would be able to take action during the 127 meeting. 128 129 Commissioner Vacha thought it would be more productive to compile questions for the attorney 130 and then submit them and come back with the answers at the next meeting. He stated that the \ 131 meetings could drag on with 15 people and thought it would be better to have the attorney 132 present at meetings towards the end of the issues.