Minutes - 2019/06/10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 10, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 2 6. PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Mori, 8141 Red Oak Court, read a statement to the Council. He explained he has lived in Mounds View with his wife for over 45 years. He stated he has known Jonathan and Grace Thomas for 40 of these years. He indicated he has known Brian and Val Amundsen for 17 years. He commented he sat with both of these gentlemen on the Charter Commission for five years, which he felt made him qualified to make a statement. He explained both men were of high integrity and of the highest ethical, moral standard. He reported both men were intelligent, honest, knowledgeable and detail-oriented. He stated if his math was correct, both have served a combined 50 years of voluntary service to the City of Mounds View. He indicated he was concerned after listening to the recent Charter Commission and Council worksession (June 3rd) meetings. He commented on the character of Jonathan Thomas and Brian Amundsen. He explained it was not their problem some of the Charter Commission members failed to attend meetings. He reported it was the Second Judicial Court’s job to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to sit on the Charter Commission. He questioned why the Council would refer to these two gentlemen using terms like insufficient, disrespectful, dis-functional and obstructionist. He reported the Council implied these two (Thomas and Amundsen) were responsible for the Chair resigning, along with two other members. He noted no specific facts were given that supported these actions and stated he found no specific behavior for either. He indicated there was some level of debate between the secretary and the attorney, but he saw this as simply points of debate and not blatant disrespect or unprofessionalism. He wondered what really was going on here. He stated he was bothered by the fact the Council had attacked the character of these two gentlemen without providing an opportunity for either to respond. He requested the Council allow these two gentlemen to respond publicly to the charges that have been made. Brian Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, stated if anyone was offended by his tone or words at the last Charter Commission meeting, he was sorry. He discussed the rules and processes that have been in place for the Charter Commission for years. He stated in 1978 the residents of Mounds View voted to become a charter city. He reviewed the bylaws that govern the Charter and commented on the agenda format requirements. He explained he was not trying to attack the Chair but rather was working to follow the Charter bylaws. He stated he believed in providing dignity to all persons. He reported for weeks he waited for responses to his calls and emails from both the Charter Commission Chair and City Administrator regarding specific secretary practices, requesting access to the TimeSaver minutes. He stated he finally called the Mayor and expressed his frustration with the situation and he was told it was unacceptable for City staff not to respond. He commented his only option was to bring these issues to the Commission as a whole. He indicated his tone at the Charter Commission meeting showed his level of frustration with the situation when he questioned the Council’s failure to follow its own statement of values, and their lack of due process. He stated he was shocked by the personal attacks coming from the City Council. He thanked those that came out tonight to support Jonathan Thomas and himself. He stated he had great peace in the love and support of God, from his wife, children and from his close friends. Jonathan Thomas, 8040 Groveland Road, discussed who he was noting he was one of 15 children. He explained when he was 10 years old the Lord spoke to him audibly and told him to