Amundsen Ltr to Court Aug 2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council June 10, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 12 contact Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Thomas requesting each resign their position from the Charter Commission and that a letter be directed to the judge stressing the need for a functional group. He noted he reached out to Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Thomas last Tuesday. City Administrator Zikmund explained this group has gone from a full complement down to three members again. City Attorney Riggs thanked City Administrator Zikmund for his thorough report on this matter. He explained he had worked with Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Thomas for many years. He respected both gentlemen but explained something within this group had to change whether that was the removal of members or changing of members in order for this group to be functional. He commented he worked with three other Charter Commissions and none operate the way Mounds View does. He stated it was very important to have a full compliment in order to make recommendations and decisions. He indicated it has taken decades for the City to reach a full compliment and now the group was down three members again. He stated he did not know what the perfect solution was. He anticipated the Council would have to deal with the members that were on the group in order to make this group functional again. He explained the Council had the right to make recommendations to the judge in order to get a full compliment on the Charter Commission. Council Member Gunn suggested the Mayor, City Attorney, City Administrator, and one other Council Member sit down with Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Thomas to discuss the situation further, along with the the Charter members who would be resigning their positions. Council Member Meehlhause supported this recommendation stating this would be a good starting point. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To direct staff to hold a meeting between the Mayor, City Attorney Riggs, City Administrator Zikmund, and Council Member Bergeron with Brian Amundsen and Jonathan Thomas to discuss the situation further, along with the former Chair of the Charter Commission and the other members that would be resigning their positions. City Administrator Zikmund stated he tried to reach out to the members that want to resign their position and indicated these members may not want to attend a sit-down meeting to further discuss this situation. Ayes — 5 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mary Kay Walsh-Kaczmarik, 8345 Pleasant View Drive, suggested the Council clarify what the Charter Commission should be doing and what the goals are for this organization. Council Member Gunn stated she did not want this to be the discussion, but rather wanted an open meeting to be held to address the personality issues that needed to be resolved. Council Member Hull explained he did not want to be receiving any further emails or seeing any other comments being raised regarding the City Administrator.