Agenda - Charter Commission - 01/08/2002 - Memorandum

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-3- II. CHARTER COMMISSION WORK - COI~STTEES, MEETINGS, CHARTER PREPARATION Starting the commission's work. (410.0%) The law declares that within 30 days after its appointment the charter commission "shall make rules including quorum requirements with reference to its operations and procedures." The commission must file an annual report of its activities with th~ chief judge on or before December 31 of each year. A copy of the report is to be given to the municipal clerk. Every such commission is practically master of its own house. Success or failure rests very much with the members themselves. A new charter as soon as practicable. (M.S.A. 410.07.) !In ~.:ci~y:-without a home rule charter, the new charter commission is directed to deliver to the city'clerk "as soon as practicable" either (1) a report stating that a home rule charter is not necessary or desirable or (2) the draft of a proposed charter. The report or the charter draft must be signed by at least a majority of the members of the commission° First meeting. Officers ,and committees. 'At their initial meeting, the commissioners should elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary, and should prepare for their work. The chairman should be a person with some experience as a presiding officer and one well acquainted with parliamentary procedume. This person should be characterized by qualities of leadership, tact, and businesslike habits. The vice chairman should be selected for similar qualities. The position of secretary should go to one who is able to write good English ina clear hand, whose habits are orderly, and who is willing to invest some time and labor not only in keeping a full and clear record of proceedings but also in keeping himself or herself constantly in touch with all the work of the commission and its several committees. A good secretary to a ~charter commission is simply invaluable. At the same meeting there should be appointed several committees, as follows: (1) a small standing committee on rules (three members will suffice); (2) a small standing committee on arrangements to deal with the time and place of meeting, stenographic assistance, library, stationery, and other matters, not neglecting publicity; (3) a large committee on general plans .and purposes. This latter committee should deal with the general strategy of the situation] in the manner to be described, and the question of whether it should be a.temporary or a permanent committee should be left to later decision. ' Committee on plans and ~ur~oses. Because it will have much to do, the committee on general plans and purposes should meet immediately after the first meeting of ~he entire commission to plan its work. Upon discussing the problem it may find it necessary to divide into several subcommittees, or at least to delegate to selected persons the duty to report on special questions falling within the three main fields of its investigations. These fields are three: (1) Members of this committee should get in touch with the.leaders of public opinion in the community, men and women, businessmen, professional people, public officials, politicians, labor leaders~ newspaper editors, ministers, and others, and particularly with.