Minutes - 2003/12/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 8, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 13 • Mayor Linke commented that the interpretation of the Chair's bylaws may be correct but it seems strange that 9 members could arbitrarily decide to reduce the number to 11. He then said that there was not a quorum of the 15 set by the Court so there was not a quorum to make that decision on the original amount set by the judge. Council Member Quick indicated that eight would be a quorum. Mayor Linke indicated he has not seen the minutes. Council Member Quick indicated he read the state statute and it states that it will be 15. City Attorney Riggs indicated that the statute says no less than 7 but no more than 15. Mayor Linke indicated he did not think there was a quantity listed on the original petition. City Attorney Riggs indicated that, if that is the case, then it is within the discretion of the Chief Judge to set an amount. He then indicated that he, as well as Mr. Thomas, is looking for the document and said that if no document can be found he would have to look to the interpretation that there is no number and interpret from there. • Mayor Linke indicated he has a hard time with that body making an arbitrary decision to ask the judge to reduce the numbers without notification of residents and Council. Council Member Quick indicated that if the court does not appoint then Council is to do so. City Attorney Riggs indicated there is no responsibility for the chief judge that has not made an appointment to notify the City. Mr. Thomas explained that the process is that when there is a member that resigns or every two years when terms expire those that wish to are allowed to submit an application to judge who reviews and renews and sends oath of office for a maximum of 8 years. He then said that since before he was chair most of the time there have not been 15 active members and the active members have gone as low as 8. He further indicated that the judge has the clerk post for the position in numerous ways and the City posts it as well by posting ads in the papers and on the bulletin boards. He also indicated that he has communicated with Staff the number of active members and what the current status of the members is. Mr. Thomas indicated that every posting is sent to the City and all open position notices go to City Staff so the number that is missing is not only sent to them it is posted on the bulletin board and has been for five years continuously and he feels it is out of order to say that the issue with maintaining active members has not been communicated. The information has been available through minutes, the public book and on the bulletin board and it is not the fault of the • Commission that people do not see the information that is available.