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LARRY S. SEVERSON <br />JAMES F. SHELDON$ <br />MICHAEL G. DOUGHERTY* <br />MICHAEL E. MOLENDA <br />LOREN M. SOLFEST *$ <br />SHARON K. HILLS <br />ROBERT B. BAUER* <br />TERRENCE A. MERRITT$ <br />ANNETTE M. MARGARIT <br />STEPHEN A. LING* <br />August 5, 2009 <br />Dan Tesch <br />City Administrator <br />City of Lino Lakes <br />600 Town Center Parkway <br />Lino Lakes, MN 55014 <br />SEVERSON, SHELDON, <br />DOUGHERTY & MOLENDA, P.A. <br />RE: Charter Commission <br />Our File No. 10556 -28517 <br />Dear Mr. Tesch: <br />A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION <br />ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br />SUITE 600 <br />7300 WEST 147TH STREET <br />APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA 55124 -4517 <br />(952) 432 -3136 <br />TELEFAX NUMBER (952) 432 -3780 <br />www.seversonsheldon.com <br />GARY L. HUUSKO# <br />CHRISTINE J. CASSELLIUS$ <br />BRIAN J. WISDORF* <br />MICHAEL D. KLEMM$* <br />EMILY FOX WILLIAMS <br />MATTHEW J. SCHAAP <br />THOMAS R. DONELY <br />JESSICA L. SANBORN <br />RYAN J. BIES <br />WILLIAM M. TOPKA <br />ERIN. E. BOERSCHEL <br />Having read the opinion of Karen Marty, as posted on the Lino Lakes Charter Commission Web site, I am <br />compelled to respond. Thus, enclosed is a memo, provided at no cost, that refutes what has been <br />presented to the Commission as an opinion based on legal precedent. The summation of my response is: <br />• The Marty opinion is full of references to broad city powers, but purposefully fails to distinguish <br />the city from the charter commission, which has limited powers. <br />• Whether a charter commission can recommend for or against an amendment has no relation to <br />whether it can spend money to advocate its position. It cannot. <br />• In none of the "legal precedents (cases)" cited in the opinion is there even a mention of a charter <br />commission entering into a contract or expending money. <br />• The office of the State Auditor has emphatically stated that a charter commission has no implied <br />power to incur expenses for flyers or other material. <br />If you have any questions, please call. <br />ichael G. <br />GD /j It <br />Enclosure <br />E -mail: dougherty ' @seversonsheldon.coln <br />Direct: (952) 953 -8820 <br />INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEYS ALSO LICENSED IN IOWA, WISCONSIN AND MISSOURI <br />$QUALIFIED NEUTRAL UNDER RULE 114 OF THE MINNESOTA GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE <br />#REGISTERED PATENT ATTORNEY <br />*MSBA BOARD CERTIFIED REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST <br />