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Commissioner Childs stated that there will always be people in transition on Commissions and <br />he respects an abstention vote, however, if a member feels so strongly about something, they <br />need to convince the rest of the Commission. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke stated that wards were discussed for two or three years and all of the other <br />things that went forward for election were brought up at one meeting. She disagreed with that <br />process. She felt there was not enough time to learn about things. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer stated that when he was on the Planning Commission, a Commissioner <br />always took a list of items to talk about during Commission input and discuss what should be on <br />the next agenda. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt stated he likes the way things are being placed on the agenda. It is offered that <br />any Commissioner may place items to be discussed on the agenda. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke stated she wants to see a change. Sometimes the City puts things on the <br />agenda and she feels it needs to be a consensus of the Commission as to whether or not <br />something should be an agenda item. She stated she would like the City Attorney to address <br />special interests. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued relating to conflict of interest/special interest. Mr. Goodrich stated that <br />anyone is able to put things on the agenda. If a person is directly benefited, they may wish to <br />abstain from the discussion and the vote because of a conflict of interest. With regard to the <br />Charter Commission, he rather doubted there would be a problem with a conflict of interest. The <br />Charter recommends things to the City Council or to the vote of the people of Ramsey. <br /> <br />Commissioner Ebel felt that the votes in November were swayed by the Ramsey Alliance Group. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer stated he did not see where the Commission could possibly have a <br />conflict as a Board. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt reminded the Commission that during the approval of the agenda, the <br />Commission has the opportunity to add or delete - and that is a great system. <br /> <br />Commissioner Ebel stated that the ethical thing would be to abstain if that person would <br />personally benefit from an issue being voted on. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt stated that he is comfortable with the way the agenda process is handled. <br /> <br />Consensus of the Commission is that it should remain status quo. <br /> <br />Case #4A: Schedule Next Meeting <br /> <br />The next "regularly" scheduled Charter Commission meeting is for Thursday, April 18. <br />Chairperson Vogt suggested waiting until August, or so, and then based on the discussion of <br />Case #5, we will schedule the next meeting. <br /> <br />Charter Commission/January 17, 2002 <br /> Page 4 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />