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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharter Commission Member Meetings June 18 2019Charter Commission Member Meetings – June 18, 2019 Brooks Staples Meeting: 2:00 PM to 2:40 PM. Mueller, Bergeron, Zikmund, Staples. Mayor thanked and introduced subject. Brooks had prepared notes based on thoughts/impressions from the two of the four meetings he has attended. Stated the May 21 meeting really opened his eyes. November meeting (First meeting) Tension in the room between Brian and Marissa, Brian has his own agenda, he steers Jonathan and used the word puppet master and after viewing the tape concluded Brian drives the bus and him and Jonathan have been together so long Jonathan supports. Stated he felt like an outsider rather than welcomed and was wondering what he got into. May 21, 2019 meeting. Brian had a personal agenda, he was short and rude to Marissa and the City Attorney. He wasted time pushing his own agenda and being argumentative with others. When Marissa asked for help on motion or agenda, Brian seemed annoyed when he had to re-phrase. Further, he corrected Marissa on a clerical error on the minutes in an arrogant manner. He demanded Marissa answer him on a Parliamentarian comment and extended the meeting by 45 minutes for his own personal agenda. Brooks also shared he thought part of this was because of her gender. With regard to Jonathan he does not smile and sometimes gives you a “look” that is disconcerting. When asked if he would stay on if Brian continued – No, was adamant and elaborated. When asked if he would stay on if Jonathan continued – No if he was in a leadership position of any kind, but would be willing to give him another chance if he was not in leadership and could change his behavior (less formal and less focus on minutia) Justin Klander Meeting: 2:40 P to 3:15 PM. Mueller, Bergeron, Zikmund, Klander Mayor thanks and introduced subject. He has no intention of serving without some changes. Senior members act inappropriate. Use Roberts Rules to work their agenda. Has to be different leadership, cannot be Brian and Jonathan. Restated he had no desire or interest to meet with either and would be a waste of his time. Brian has a very clear agenda and Marissa did not have a chance. He would be willing to serve as chair but wants an independent Parliamentarian who rules over all (Jonathan and Brian) as the interpretation is not as black and white as Jonathan and Brian portray it to be – gave agenda as an example. It would be ideal if both leave, he will stay on if changes are made. 3:15 to 3:30 PM Discussion and consensus Mayor will lead, based on feedback from Marissa (email), Staples and Klander feedback, and other commission feedback we would start meeting requesting Jonathan consider resignation. Jonathan Thomas Meeting: 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Mueller, Bergeron, Zikmund, Thomas Mayor thanked Jonathan for coming and opened meeting with resignation request. JT responded no point in meeting but then listened when Mayor explained why – 1 resignation in hand, 2 pending – none of them willing to even meet with him, and concerns from two other commission members; thus up to 5 commission members could be gone. Jonathan responded that he was appointed to this position by God and he has not released his Spirit yet from this duty. He has been respectful to the chair and even tried to help her. He belabored this some more then shared/read a letter from former member Dan Lee Sachs that was sent to Judge when he resigned as he was moving out of the city. Letter was very complimentary of Jonathan and his leadership and ability to bring people together. He then elaborated that the Charter Commission has to walk a fine line between Council purpose/goal and citizen rights. He felt the workshop meeting was a character assassination, was accused by innuendo and that his character was on trial. At this time and again later, he indicated this was has been more disturbing, caused more stress, hindered his ability to sleep than anything else in his life include military service in a combat zone (but there was no combat), near loss of a newborn and loss of a grandchild (miscarriage). He reiterated he did everything he could to help Marissa but when challenged by CM Bergeron on his silence admitted he was very regretful, and that as a senior member he should have known and did know that when Brian made the motion to amend the agenda and did not have a written copy while it was in order it was not necessary and he was the one person uniquely qualified to intervene – and he did not. He reflected on this again later in the conversation and at least two times stated he was unable to act because events were so overwhelming (my word not his). He did state that he did not think Brian’s act to amend was intentional and did not respond when Mayor stated Brian had prepared numerous other documents and made copies but did not do that for agenda. When asked again if he would resign he responded – He has had that discussion with God and would not. Nyle shared that his focus on Christianity and comments at council meeting which where nearly entirely faith based where inappropriate and potentially offensive given this was Charter Commission business and religion should not be a component given our diverse community. When asked if he needs to be in a leadership role of any kind – He did not, would be happy to just be a member. When asked if he could support a more informal process, use motions and Roberts only when making final decisions such as sending completed language forward – Yes and elaborated. When asked if he could support a model in which the City Attorney did the drafting he “lectured” and belabored that is not allowed under the statute, has had discussions with Attorney Riggs, etc. When pressed he did concede that it might be possible if the Commission made changes in their review process of attorney drafted language. Mayor summarized meeting; we asked him to resign and he was not going to, we have 1 resignation in hand, two pending and two concerned, he was willing to step back from leadership, and he understood it was up to the judge. Brian Amundsen Meeting: 4:35 PM to 5:50 PM – Mueller, Bergeron, Zikmund, Hull, Amundsen At Brian’s request the meeting was taped, working on the transcript. In short, argumentative but polite during entire session, attempted to control meeting, at times unwilling to answer council questions. When asked by CM Bergeron what impression he had of the May 21st meeting he responded he did not have an impression. He indicated/stated/asked when things changed with the Charter Commission and after we engaged in some discussion on trying to ascertain where he was going he stated it was when the new City Administrator was hired. Mayor stated with respect to Charter Commission new administrator was acting as directed by council. When asked what his advice to council would be given the one resignation, two pending, and two upset members he indicated we should build the Charter ranks thru training. At the end, he returned to this discussion and stated council should think back to when things started changing. 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM Placed call to attorney Riggs, advised quorum was present and that we had posted the quorum on our web and in the front lobby. We could review but should not discuss much. CM Hull excused himself at this time (6:05) and we discussed, reviewed amongst the three of us with consensus and advise from Riggs that this should/will come up under Council reports with Mayor and CM Bergeron reporting back to council and making recommendation to proceed with letter to court. Meeting with Brandon Clawson: 1:30 Monday June 24, 2019 Brandon had emailed me the previous Thursday/Friday seeking an update and open to a meeting. We set the meeting for 1:30 on Monday. I typed up a short outline for discussion purposes. Key remarks made by Brandon: Will chair the meeting and continue to be chair – hoping for Justin and Brooks to be present to support him becoming the chair. Was angry when he learned at training that staff does the drafting and going forward, has no desire to draft or engage in that activity, rather operate at the policy level. Has read and knows Roberts and Jonathan and Brian are not always following. Would like to see Marissa back and acknowledged she is unlikely to return if Jonathan and Brian are present. Will finish his term, open to another but only if changes are made. Fully supports Council/Staff vision which is 2 to 4 meetings per year, less formality, City Attorney drafts language and Commission focuses on policy. Intimated on several occasions little time for Brian and to lesser degree Johnathan. Would probably just ignore Brian. Did watch the council meeting and troubled by Jonathan’s inclusion of religion. When I shared Johnathan informed us we was appointed by God he was further troubled.