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CHARTER COMMISSION <br />CITY OF R2MSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />A special meeting of the Ramsey Charter Commission was held on Monday, <br />September 26, 1983 at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Blvd. N.W., <br />Ramsey, Minnesota. <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Mr. Gary Heitman, Chairman <br />Mr. Dick Sieber <br />Mr. Stan Data <br />Ms. Brenda Bauerkemper <br />Mr. John Lichter <br />Mr. Tom Greenberg <br /> <br />Also Present: <br /> <br />Mr. Bill Dorn, Attorney <br /> <br />Members Absent: <br /> <br />Mr. Roger Buchanan <br />Mr. Curt Titterud <br />Mr. Tom Gamec <br /> <br />CALL TO ORDER <br /> <br />Chairman Heitman called the special meeting to order at 7;33 p.m. <br /> <br />COMMISSION BUSINESS <br /> <br />Chairman Heitman stated that the purpose of this special meeting is to review <br />the amended charter rough draft, primarily chapters 7 and 8. <br /> <br />Regarding Chapter 7, on September 22, 1983 the Commission modified all references <br />to budget resolutions as budget ordinances and changed from an 'implied' 5 year <br />long term plan to a 'stated' 5 year long term plan. <br /> <br />Commissioner Data stated that he is not in favor of adopting the budget by <br />ordinance because it could tie up City's hands with regards to doing their <br />job. It is possible that a few irate citizens could be subjecting the budget <br />to referendum every year -- there are bad apples in the community as well as <br />on Council. Commissioner Data also noted that Chairman Heitman's concerns need <br />to be addressed -- that Council isn't driving new Lincoln's at our expense. <br /> <br />Chairman Heitman stated, regarding unethical procurement of funds by a given <br />Council, his concern is the taking of funds from the General Fund which has <br />been accumulated for a special purpose and utilizing those funds for a project <br />that has been put to a referendum of the citizens and failed. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sieber stated that he is split between using resolutions or <br />ordinances for budgets. The City would have a lot of work to go through if <br />the decisions is made to go with ordinances; but it is our City, our taxes <br />and our Council and we ough~ to have some control. There should be some way <br />people can disagree with the budget and be heard -- possibly subjecting the <br />budget to referendum with a very high number of signatures required on the <br />petition would work. This would require Council to hear our concerns regarding <br />the budget and the high percentage of signatures required on the petition would <br />insure that the citizens are serious. <br /> <br />Sp CC/September 26, 1983 <br /> Page I of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />