Agenda Packets - 2001/07/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 11, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 19 is not a situation where Council Members are precluded from making comments but stated the City should follow the Charter which states that the Mayor, who can direct the City Administrator to assist him, should be making the official comment. Council Member Stigney questioned whether the motion would cover all communications or just press releases of a written nature. Council Member Quick noted that one other time Council instituted a gag order on itself when there was a very large lawsuit pending which controlled the flow of communication from Council. He then noted that, if a Council Member were to misstate something, it could be used against the City. Council Member Thomas noted she assumed the motion to govern all issues regarding pending litigation and not necessarily other communications. She then noted it would be very easy to say things that perhaps should not be said concerning litigation issues and stated she felt this would allow Council the opportunity to run everything through the City Attorney. Council Member Marty stated he understood where caution would be advised with pending litigation but noted there is also a consideration of freedom of speech. He then stated that he believes in freedom of speech and stated that, if a Council Member would need to, want to or chose to make a statement or be questioned by the press they should be allowed to get permission from the City Attorney to comment. He then suggested the above comments as a friendly amendment to the motion. Council Member Quick did not accept the friendly amendment. Council Member Thomas noted it was not necessary to add Council Member Marty’s comments to the motion as there is already a system in place that requires communication with the City Attorney be run through the City Administrator. She then noted that Council Members do not directly contact the Attorney. She further noted that freedom of speech is for one person and that Council is not one person but the voice of the entire Council and the City and communications from Council need to come from the table as a whole. Council Member Stigney questioned whether the communication would come from the City Administrator with or without Council approval before being sent out. City Administrator Miller indicated it would depend on the nature and severity of the questions. She then noted that some questions could be handled by the City Attorney and that some may need to be run by Council for approval. City Attorney Riggs indicated that the City Administrator could take care of a lot of the issues. He then noted that, if a general statement as to the City’s position is being made, the five members speak for the City and those are the issues that Council Member Quick is addressing with the motion.