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<br />Commissioner Cleveland stated that there is an opportunity to make this liaison as a <br />voting member - and referred to 4.5.5.2, and added that we could keep it very simple. <br />She stated that we are not reinventing the wheel - we are under scrutiny and we should <br />have some details. <br /> <br />Commissioner Field stated with regard to 4.5.4 - if the time is less than 365 days, the <br />Council can appoint a successor. All arguments about establishing an incumbency could <br />apply with this provision. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cleveland stated she thought that was a mistake. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated we have not changed that- that's the exact language from the <br />original Charter. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sherman stated we should avoid special elections at all costs. She would <br />rather have an appointment made for these time periods that are reasonable. She stated <br />she read through this and she is not foreign to government language and she felt that it <br />read horrible; it needs to be much simpler. <br /> <br />Commissioner Field stated that he read some of the Charters from other cities and they <br />have some real issues. It creates vagueness - there needs to be a clearer presentation <br />without changing the content. <br /> <br />Commissioner Shea suggested that maybe just the word liaison needs to be clarified. She <br />stated she would not have any issues with this but she is not holding one of the City <br />Council positions - maybe it just needs to be clearer for the members holding Council <br />seats. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bergfalk stated we have been talking about this for a long time - he <br />wondered if anyone knows exactly what the City Council did not like about the Charter's <br />proposed amendment. <br /> <br />Mr. . Goodrich stated that they did not reach the special election talk. They did not like <br />the idea that the six members left could not handle concerns of the citizens. They felt the <br />six would be plenty capable to handle citizen complaints. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bergfalk stated they are not saying they would appoint a Councilmember <br />pro tern - they would just take care of the City with one Councilmember short. We can <br />write documents that will deal with every conceivable event that might take place or <br />never take place but at some point, we have to trust that we will leave it up to reasonable <br />people to carry on business in the City. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sherman stated she could make a motion to discuss this no further - take <br />it off the table. <br /> <br />Charter Commission - May 19, 2009 <br />Page 6 of8 <br />