01.30.09 Memo Regarding Absences form Municipal-Elected OfficesMemorandum
CCRYSM.
DATE: January 30, 2009
TO: Crystal Charter Commission
FROM: Anne Norris, City Manager
SUBJECT: Absences from Municipal -Elected Offices
Crystal Charter Section 2.07 outlines situations which constitute a vacancy on the
Council. While there is language regarding a councilmember "having a continuous
absence from the city for more than three months" or "failure of the councilmember
without good cause to perform the duties of the office for a period of three months",
there isn't any provision addressing an extended absence by a councilmember. It might
be useful for the Commission to discuss adding some language addressing this
circumstance. Below is information from Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth and
Robbinsdale charters regarding vacancies/attendance.
Brooklyn Center_
Brooklyn Center's charter specifies that a councilmember missing three
consecutive regular Council meetings without being excused by the Council is
considered a vacancy on the Council but there is no definition of what is
considered an unexcused absence.
Brooklyn Park:
Brooklyn Park's charter considers a vacancy when there is "failure to perform
any of the duties of Council Member for a continuous period of ninety days."
Plymouth;
Plymouth's charter contains similar language as Crystal's, that is "having a
continuous absence from the city for more than 90 days" or "failure of the officer
without good cause to perform the duties of the office for a period of three
consecutive months." There is a provision in Plymouth's city code requiring
councilmembers to attend at least one council meeting in a month in order to
receive pay for that month.
Robbinsdale:
Robbinsdale's charter includes similar language to Crystal's: "continuous
absence of the member from the city for more than three months" or "failure of
the member without good cause to perform the duties of the office for a period of
three months."
It seems that if the Commission suggests additional language addressing this issue,
there should be some acknowledgement that "good cause" be taken into consideration.
Janet Lewis
From: Samantha Erickson [Samantha.Erickson@metrostate.edu]
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 1:18 PM
To: Janet Lewis
Subject: Re: Charter Commission Meeting minutes
Janet
I think the minutes look okay.
Once they are approved by commission members, what is the next step?
Can we get the process started to make the recommendations to the city council without the
commission meeting again?
Thanks,
Sam
>>> Janet Lewis <Janet.Lewis @ci.crystal. mn.us> 2/23/2009 12:52 PM >>>
Dear Charter Commission Members:
In an effort to expedite approval of the meeting minutes from February 5, 2009, I've been
instructed to send an electronic version to each of you for approval. Please read through the
minutes and email me any corrections you deem necessary. If you approve the minutes,
please communicate this as well. I've never done this before, so we'll see how this works...
All Charter Commission members must send me an email response. Thank you.
Janet Lewis J
Crystal City Clerk
Phone: (763) 531-1145
Fax: (763) 531-1188