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<br />Motioncanied. Votirig Yes: Chairperson LaMere, Vice-Chair Deemer, Commissioners <br />Sherman, Bergfalk, Cleveland, Frederick, and McKinney. Voting No: None. Absent: <br />Commissioners Erickson and Simenson. <br /> <br />COMMISSION BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: Consider Amending Subsections 2.5 and 4.5.5 of the Citr's Charter <br /> <br />Section 2.5 Vacancies <br /> <br />Commissioner McKinney stated he did not 'understand why the liaison referenced. in <br />Section 2.5 only had one vote when the liaison is filling a vacancy and is serving those <br />residents whose councilmember's seat is vacant. He questioned why this person should <br />not have two votes instead of one because it appears that this person is doing two jobs. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich replied the liaison is not. an elected person and added this <br />councilmember cannot b~ given two votes under any circumstances. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer explained this person is an elected councilperson taking on <br />additional responsibilities in the event of a vacancy. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cleveland stated, based. on the Charter Commission's previous discussion, <br />the Charter Commission did not want councilmembers to have the ability to appoint <br />someone by motion to fill a seat until the next election because it could be a person that <br />could be considered an. incumbent which gives that person an unfair advantage. She, <br />added the council majority fills that seat and it may be a person that does not necessarily <br />represent the wishes of the electorate; the whole purpose is not to have that extra vote. <br /> <br />Chairperson LaMere asked if it would be helpful if the liaison function were better' <br />described in this section. She read Section 3.2 of the former City Charter with respect to <br />the liaison function, which states "Council members shall be' assigned as liaison to <br />necessary areas both internal and external to the City. These assignments shall be rotated <br />periodically and 'shall involve no administrative responsibility." <br /> <br />Commissioner Bergfalk noted this section was deleted in April 2007. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich stated a definition can be added to Section 2.5, and explained this <br />Section was deleted because the City went to wards and each councilmember had a ward <br />to serve. He stated this section could be revised to state that the councilmember liaison <br />shall involve no administrative responsibility. <br /> <br />Chairperson LaMere thought this addition would be helpful. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cleveland stated the liaison is a temporary appointment with only one <br />vote until the position is filled. She asked what the City meant by the use of the term <br />"liaison" in the previous Charter. <br /> <br />Charter Commission/June 12,2008 <br />Page 2 of5 <br /> <br />-2- <br />