HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.16.82 Council Minutes
MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR
AUGUST 16, 1982
1. The meeting was called
Present: Mayor Ste9maier,
Absent: None
A I so P resen t:
to order by the Mayor at 7:00 P.M.
Coundlmembers Cook, Kelly, Kuchera, Orr
Administrator Ford, Attorney Gorgas
2. Motion by Kelly, second by Orr to approve the minutes of August 2, 1982
as presented. APIF, motion carried.
3. The City had taken bids at 2:00 P.M. this date for 1982 Sealcoating and
the results were presented to the Council as follows:
Bituminous Roadway $ 9,927.50
Blacktop Service 10,191.50
Bituminous Materials, Inc. 11,990.00
Allied Blacktop 12,589.50
Highway Surfacing 12,636.25
Motion by Kuchera, second by Cook that award of contract be made to Bituminous
Roadways, Inc. in the amount of $9,927.50, that following execution of the
contract by both parties~ that the City Engineer be authorized to issue a change
order in an additional amount not to exceed 25% of the contract, and further,
that the Superintendent of General Services be authorized to designate the
areas to be sealcoated which are covered by the change order. APIF, motion r;
carried.
4. The Counci I informally reviewed the fi rst draft of information to be
provided to the public in connection with the proposed bond issue to provide
funds for the acquisition of a site for a future fire facility. It was the
consensus of the Council that no specific details as to type, size, cost, or
timing regarding the future facility itself, be stated in the information
provided to the public in regard to the bond sale for the site acquisition.
It was also the consensus of the Council that the City Attorney be authorized
and directed to prepare the legal question which shall appear on the ballot.
5. Motion by Cook, second by Kuchera to authorize the capital outlay purchase
of an air compressor for the Fire Department from Compressed Air and Equipment
Company in the amount of $8,380 and further, that the General Fund be adjusted
by reducing the capital outlay for that line item by $600 and increasing the
contingency account by a similar amount. APIF, motion carried.
6. Motion by Kuchera, second by Orr to approve the amendment of the Fire
Department By-Laws as requested by a majority vote of the Fire Department
at a formal meeting held ,September 14, 1981 by changing the probationary
period from 6 months to One year. APIF, motion carried.
7. The Council reviewed a memorandum from the City Administrator dated
August 10, 1982 in which he informed the Council that the selection process
prescribed by the Council to fill the position of Senior Citizen Center
Coordinator had now been completed and he was making his recommendation
to the Council. Members of the Council discussed the memorandum among themselves
and put several questions to the Administrator. Motion by Kelly, second by
Orr to authorize the offer of employment to be made as recommended by the
City Administrator to Catherine Marie Boebel-Denison. APIF, motion carried.
8. The Mayor reported to the Council that he had met with the Chairman of
the HRA and had negotiated an overhead reimbursement amount which he could
recommend to the Council. He informed them that the amount which he was
recommending to which the Chairman had agreed, was $10,000 for 1982 and
$10,000 for 1983. Motion by Orr, second by Kelly that the Council approve the
negotiated figures and if approved by the HRA, the Administrator be auth-
orized and directed to implement the agreement. APIF, motion carried.
9. Motion by Kuchera, second by Cook to adopt Resolution No. R19-82
Approving List of Election Judges and Designating Polling Place for
State Primary Election. APIF, motion carried.
10. Motion by Orr, second by Cook to adopt Ordinance No. 082-134t An
Ordinance Regulating Transient Merchant Sales. APIF, motion carried.
11. The Council recognized, having received a final draft of the proposed
cable television ordinance which included the most recent changes
required by the State Cable Board which had been submitted to the
Cable Board by the City Attorney. No action required.
12. Motion by Kelly, second by Kuchera to set the first public hearing on
revenue sharing for 7:00 P.M., September 20, 1982. APIF, motion carried.
13. The next item on the agenda dealt with the Open Meeting Law. Council
member Orr stated that the item was on the agenda at his request. He
explained that he and others had received a letter from Mr. Robert Hughley,
a resident of Rosemount and also a Dakota County Deputy Sheriff. Mr. Hughley
stated in the letter that he was sending it to the individuals because the
Dakota County Tribune had refused to print it as a letter to the editor. In
the letter he stated that he had overheard a conversation between Council-
member Kuchera and Acting Police Chief Dan Churchill which, if true, implied
a possible violation of the Open Meeting Law. Mr. Orr stated that he had
two major concerns with this episode: (1) whether all members of the Council
were complying with the Open Meeting Law, and (2) whether the Council was
given some incorrect information when Kuchera answered IInoll in the earlier
meeting in which Mr. Orr asked whether any member of the Council had consulted
with each other. Member Orr stated further that he felt the credibility of
the Council has been threatened. He stated further that if he were one who
was implicated by the allegations that he would wish an opportunity to respond
and to clear the record. The Mayor then asked if Member Kuchera or Member Cook
had anything to say. Member Cook responded that he had nothing to say, that
he had nothing to do with Kuchera, and that he didn't know what he was talking
about. Member Kuchera stated he had no comment since he was involved in
litigation concerning the Open Meeting Law. Mayor Stegmaier stated he was
particularly bothered by the statement in the letter which intimated that
violations of the Open Meeting Law were IIcommon practicell among some members
of the Farmington City Council. Member Orr asked if any member of the Council
would object if the City Attorney were directed and authorized to investigate
the allegations in the letter. Mayor Stegmaier stated he had no objection.
Member Cook stated that it made no difference to him but that the City would
have to pay Kucherals attorney fees. Motion by Stegmaier, second by Orr that
the City Attorney be authorized and directed to investigate the circumstances
referred to in the subject letter and the implications thereof, and to
report back to the Council his findings. Voting for: Stegma,jer, Cook, Kelly,
Orr. Abstaining~ Kuchera. Motion carried.
Council meeting minutes of August 16, 1982 continued
14. Motion by Orr, second by Kelly that the City request that the Dakota
County Highway Department and the Dakota County Board investigate vehicular
speed on County State Aid Highway #31 between 190th Street and State Highway
#50. The objective being to post the maximum speed limit in that stretch
of road to 45 MPH. APIF, motion carried.
15. Motion by Orr, second by Kelly to approve the payment of bills as presented.
APIF, motion carried.
16. Motion by Orr, second by Kelly that the building located at 416 Third
Street be declared a public nuisance and hazard and instructed the City Attorney
to take the necessary legal steps to have the building removed within 60 days
of receipt of notice to move. APIF, motion carried.
17. The Council clarified the Shade Tree Program procedure as follows:
When a diseased tree is detected on private property the owner
of that property shall receive a notice to remove the tree and
the stump and if the property owner takes the necessary action
within 20 days, the owner shall be eligible for 25% of cost subsidy.
If action is not taken by the owner to remove the tree within
20 days, at the expiration of the 20 day period the City shall
remove the tree and the total cost shall be billed back to the
owner. I f the bi II is not paid the total cost shall be certified
to their taxes.
A property owner wishing to avail himself of the subsidy but
unable to pay the total cost at one time shall request of the
City a multi-year payment schedule not to exceed five years,
which requires Council approval.
18. Motion made and seconded to adjourn at 8:30 P.M.
RespectfUllY. submi ~:e~#
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Wi II i am J. Ford -, ~
City Administrator
APPROVED:
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