Laserfiche WebLink
Further discussion: Councilmember Hendriksen inquired if the Mayor would be prohibited from <br />making his opinion in a public forum if the new policy is adopted. City Administrator Norman <br />replied that he would be able to state his personal opinion as long it as it is known that it was his <br />personal opinion and not the view of the entire Council. Councilmember Hendriksen inquired as <br />to how they were going to handle the issue of discussing how a vote occurred. He felt that <br />restricting the discussion on how a vote was made is censorship. City Attorney Goodrich <br />explained that the policy was getting at editorializing, but there was nothing wrong with saying <br />what the vote was and who voted for what. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the Mayor <br />does 12 council updates and the remainder of the Councilmembers do tlu:ee and he felt that that <br />was a time to discuss the facts as well as give his opinion when he is asked. He stated that he felt <br />like the policy was an attempt by the majority of the Council to censor what is said. <br />Councilmember Zimmerman stated that the policy could be a violation of free speech because it <br />is trying to limit what he says. Mayor Gamec replied that it was a policy taken from other cities. <br />Councihnember Hendriksen clarified that the policy was written by the City Administrator. City <br />Administrator Nom~an replied that that was correct. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that he <br />did not have a large problem with the policy as long as it is interpreted as it was stated by the <br />City Attorney. If it is interpreted in a self serving way in order to control what the citizens of <br />Ramsey know and as a censorship tool then he does have a problem. Councilmember <br />Zimmerman inquired as to why such a policy was brought forward. Mayor Gamec stated that he <br />had requested that such a policy be drafted because he had received a lot of comments from <br />residents regarding remarks being made by some Councilmembers. Councilmember Kurak <br />stated that no one is trying to hide how they vote on an issue. The issue is the type of comments <br />that are being made, which are disrespectful to their colleagues. It's the impression that is left <br />when something is being said about someone when the other person can't respond. <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that it was interesting that Councilmember Kurak went to <br />other QCTV commissioners trying to pass a censorship policy and they all turned it down and <br />know it is trying to be done here. Councilmember Kurak replied that she did not go to any <br />members of QCTV to try and pass a censorship policy. She explained that she had been asked <br />by the Mayor to discuss the issue with Terry O'Connell and his response was that it was a City <br />matter. Councilmember Hendriksen replied that what he should have stated is that the manager <br />of QCTV, and other persons, reported that Ms. Kurak was soliciting their support for such a <br />policy. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Kurak, and Anderson. Voting <br />No: Councihnembers Hendriksen, and Zimmerman. <br /> <br />Case #14: Report from Personnel Committee <br /> <br />The Personnel Committee met on May 14, 2002 to discuss the following cases: <br /> <br />City Council/May 14, 2002 <br />Page 31 of 33 <br /> <br />-87- <br /> <br /> <br />