HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 11-21-1994 Charter Review Committee
Meeting Date: November 21, 1994
Present were: Committee members, David Ragan, Chairman Michael Logan,
Jean Spieker, Vice- Chairman Don Acker (arrived 7:10), Lester Strother (arrived 7:30),
City Secretary Terri Willis,staff representative. Also present were Councilmembers Nelda
Stroder and Larry Wilson,
City Manager Stephen Hughes, and Oliver Petit.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:05 by Chairman Logan.
2. David Ragan made the motion to accept the October 24, 1994 and November 3, 1994
minutes as written. Jean Spieker seconded the motion. Carried unanimously.
D. Ragan expressed his desire for this meeting to adjourn by 8:30 as he had personal
commitments to attend. Chairman Logan made note of that fact . He also stated this
meeting was for the express purpose of having the City Manager present to cover some
Charter items with him, and be on schedule for our next meeting with the City Attorney.
The change of date and time from that stated in our last Charter meeting was due to a
scheduling conflict in Mr. Hughes' calendar.
3. Chairman Logan called for the review of our proposed Charter recommendations.
Section 2.01 Chairman Logan stated he believed our recommendation was to include the
words "Official City Map" . All agreed, change was noted.
Section 5.01 Keep changes.
Q D. Acker arrived and was apprised of the meeting so far.
Section 5.02 Keep changes.
Section 5.03 see new Section 5.12 Limitations on Successive Terms. Discussion
occurred at this point on term limits. D. Ragan is not convinced this is a good idea for our
City, the citizens can still vote a person out of office. Chairman Logan expressed his
opinion that the citizens should decide if they want their Charter to contain this provision.
D. Ragan stated he would submit his minority opinion on this item. It was agreed Ragan
would give Secretary Spieker a copy of his opinion to be included with the Committee's
intent and logic statement to the Council.
Section 5.08 Keep changes
Section 5.12 Limitations on Successive Terms. See Section 5.03 for discussion.
Section 6.04 sub-section 3 item h and proposed Section 6.09. D. Ragan believes item h
is something Steve needs to work on instead of having a Charter amendment that would
provide for a City Civil Service Commission. He is very opposed to this idea.
Chairman Logan stated D. Ragan's comments would be so noted. Chairman Logan
observed the fact that each time item h. is considered there is dissension and discussion on
the subject. He explained the change for item h. and the provision for a C.C.S was the
Committee's attempt to alleviate this discussion and provide for a consolidation of current
ordinances covering employment. City Manager Hughes was asked for his comments on
this issue.
City Manager Hughes stated whatever is supported by the Council and citizens is
wonderful and acceptable to him. He expressed his view city managers either detest or
APN love the C.C.S., there seems to be no middle ground. One could say it provides a manager
with no say in matters, or gives them freedom from issues on employment. When pressed
for his opinion Hughes stated he believes as far as the grievance process is concerned he
would be more effective if he was brought into the process earlier. He also pointed out
when and if he is involved in a grievance it is difficult when the grievance committee sends
the item back to him. D. Ragan said this is the item that needs to be fixed (the grievance
process), and made more workable. Ragan believes the City Council should do their job
of deciding salaries and benefits and not be guided by a City Civil Service Commission.
Our City is not comparable to Fort Worth or North Richland Hills and a C.C.S would use
other cities as a basis for their recommendations. He also is concerned about the cost of
codifying the ordinances covering employment.
Further discussion took place between City Manager Hughes and the Committee covering
the evolution of a C.C.S from a discussion of the grievance provision, the positive view of
employees on this issue, other cities' provisions for a C.C.S, and budgetary implications of
these matters. L. Strother arrived and was apprised of the meeting to this point.
Chairman Logan covered the positive aspects of having all the ordinances covering
employment under one umbrella, and showed all present a PACT brochure delineating the
employment explanations and requirements of the four participating cities to potential
and current employees. After further discussion the Committee agreed to drop
the recommendation for a C.C.S as a Charter provision, and to recommend that item h.
be changed to "provide for employee grievance system as approved by the Council". This
will enable the Council to provide an ordinance covering the grievance system, instead of
trying to amend the item in the Charter.
Section 6.08 item 1 and 2. City Attorney P. Wieneskie will write the provisions covering
the Court of Record and Court Clerk.
Section 9.04 Keep change. City Manager Hughes agreed the increase should help in
small bid items.
Section 12.01 Keep changes. City Manager Hughes thought this was a great idea.
Section 12.02 Keep changes. Oliver Petit believes the general public does not have
enough information prior to the Public Hearing . He would like to see a provision to
provide a copy of the detailed budget to the public. Chairman Logan mentioned all the
budget meetings are opened to the public and a copy of the budget is in the library and our
recommendations for a Public Forum and Town Hall meeting prior to the Public Hearing
opens the door to encourage public input earlier in the process. D. Acker stated the
suggestions give time for changes to be made in the budget process. Chairman Logan
agreed this would increase the time span from 60 days to over 100 starting at the January
meeting.
Section 13.02 Keep the change.
City Manager asked to backtrack for a moment to the previous item. He stated as there
are so many dates to consider when making out the budget schedule, including state and
Charter requirements , his suggestion would be for a duel provision, linking Charter dates
to State requirements. D. Ragan agrees a duel provision would simplify things.
L. Strother pointed out that State law changes. Discussion ensued concerning the
differences between Charter and State requirements. Simply put, the Charter can make
/1 requirements more stringent than State , but not lessen the requirements. We can add a
Town Hall meeting to the Public Hearing , but not eliminate the Public Hearings.
Chairman Logan stated that as City Attorney Wieneskie will be present at our next
meeting we can discuss this with him.
Section 15.02 Keep change
Section 15.04 Keep change
Section 15.05 Keep change
Section 15.06 Keep change
Section 15.07 Keep change
Section 15.08 Keep change
Section 17.13 Keep change
Chairman Logan stated that this finishes our review and we are now ready for the final
draft of about 18 proposals. L. Strother is not finished with the review of the Preamble.
D.Acker questioned the location for the typo clause. Possible suggestion is under
Section 18.01 Savings Clause, either as the last sentence, or as a "b"
Oliver Petit questioned how the changes would be noted in a changed Charter. His
suggestion would be for a side bar to the left of each item changed from the previous
Charter. Chairman Logan reminded us we agreed to have revision dates on the front
cover. D. Ragan questioned the typo correction of the current Charter. It was agreed by
the next meeting a typo list would be included with the typos italicized .
D. Acker requested we cover our intent verbiage with City Attorney Wieneskie.
Our next meeting was set for December 6, 1994 at 7:30
Meeting was opened to the Public. No comment was made.
L. Strother requested earlier in this meeting the record so note he arrived at 7:30, in time
for a normally set meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8: 35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
c7c4./22,1ekve4.,, Secretary hairman