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Council Minutes

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

OF THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
June 25, 2002

The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota met in its organizational session in the council chambers in City Hall on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 at the hour of 7:00 o’clock p.m. with Mayor Brown presiding.

ADMINISTER OATHS OF OFFICE TO MUNICIPAL JUDGE
AND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mayor Brown administered the oath of office to Henry J. Eslinger as municipal judge of the city of Grand Forks for a four-year term expiring in June 2006.

Municipal Judge Henry Eslinger administered oaths of office to newly elected members of the city council for terms of either two terms expiring in June, 2004 and four years expiring in June 2006: Bob Brooks, first ward for a two-year term expiring in June 2004; Gerald F. Hamerlik, second ward for a four-year term expiring in June 2006; Eliot Glassheim, third ward for a two-year term expiring in June 2004; Harold (Hal) Gershman, fourth ward, for a four-year term expiring in June 2006; Douglas A. Christensen, fifth ward, for a two-year term expiring in June 2004; Dorette Kerian, sixth ward, for a four-year term expiring in June 2006; and Curtiss Kreun, seventh ward, for a two-year term expiring in June 2004.

Present at roll call were Council Members Brooks, Hamerlik, Glassheim, Gershman, Christensen, Kerian, Kreun - 7.

TABLE ELECTION OF COUNCIL OFFICERS

Mayor Brown announced that the city council would now proceed to organize.

The city attorney reported that on March 18, 2002, Ordinance No. 3916 was adopted which provides that on or before August 1 in each even numbered year the city council will elect certain officers from its membership, those officers include a president, a first vice president and a second vice president who will hold those offices for two years, that would be on the agenda before you, if you choose to act on it tonight but by Code have to undertake that election on or before August 1.

There was a request for clarification and considerable discussion by the council relating to the offices that were to be elected as well as the two standby committees for referral items - whether to have a president and vice president or president and two vice presidents who would serve as chairs to the two standby committees (finance/urban development and service/safety) as approved in the committee recommenda-tions of the Council Transition Task Force chaired by Council Member Brooks.

Council Member Glassheim stated what had been adopted was two committees, finance/urban development and public service/public safety which wouldn't be standing committees in the sense of dealing with day to day business but which would be activated as things were referred to them on serious matters, matters of serious conflict or matters of policy change and also approved electing the first vice president who would be the chair of the finance/urban development committee and a second vice president who would be chair of service/safety; and those three would then designate the membership of the committees and that was approved on March 4, 2002 unanimously. Mr. Swanson stated that was not inconsistent with the ordinance.

After further discussion, it was moved by Council Member Glassheim and seconded by Council Member Brooks to table this matter to July 1, 2002. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Council Member Brooks moved to table the item for election of vice president of the city council to July 1, 2002; seconded by Council Member Kerian. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF CITY ATTORNEY

Mayor Brown announced the appointment of Howard D. Swanson as city attorney for a period of two years, June 2004. It was moved by Council Member Brooks and seconded by Council Member Hamerlik to confirm the mayor's appointment of Mr. Swanson as city attorney. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

ADJOURN

It was moved by Council Member Gershman and seconded by Council Member Brooks that we adjourn. Carried 7 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,

John M. Schmisek
City Auditor

Approved:
____________________________________
Michael R. Brown, Mayor