HomeMy WebLinkAbout770744.tiff RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ' 100 Leaves
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MINUTES
WELD COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER
AMENDMENT STUDY COMMITTEE
April 25, 1977
The Weld County Home Rule Charter Amendment Study Committee met in regular session
in the 3rd Floor Meeting Room of the Weld County Centennial Center, Greeley,
Colorado, on Wednesday, April 20, 1977 at the hour of 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Gordon Lacy, and on roll call ,
the following members were present, constituting a quorum of the members thereof:
Gordon Lacy, Chairman
Elverda Peddycord, Vice-chairman (arrived at 7:40 P.M. )
William Butler
Dick Boettcher
John Kunzman
Blair Macy
Wayne Brown
Helen Norton
Barbara Sloan
Also present:
Assistant County Attorney, P. Kay Norton; Secretaries, Sandy Moorhouse and Cathy
Carter; Three members of the Press
MINUTES APPROVED: The Charter Committee unanimously approved the minutes of the March 16,
1977 meeting of the Home Rule Charter Amendment Study Committee, as written, as well
as the memo of law submitted by Mr. Thomas 0. David and written by P. Kay Norton,
Assistant County Attorney.
There was some general discussion with regard to the above-mentioned memo of law.
Discussion was then had by the Committee as a whole as to the question of inviting
members of the original Weld County Home Rule Charter Committee and members of
different departments within the County, as well as the public and the County Council ,
for input. It was decided that these people would be invited to attend later sessions
of the committee. Comments as to whether there should be a steering committee or
subcommittees were made. It was the general opinion of the entire committee that they
would try to stay together in the form of one committee as much as possible throughout
the entire study. Dick Boettcher then mentioned a meeting he had attended in Washing-
- ton D.C. during March, 1977 which could be of some significance during the study
sessions. Copies will be sent to all committee members of the literature Dick presented.
It was then decided to start at the beginning of the Home Rule Charter and receive in-
put from all committee members as to trouble areas and questions they had with each
detail in
while h going through it page by page. Each trouble area would be discussed in
detailuin later mer ftinr gefereThe.major areas of discussion are itemized below: (Use the
Home Article II, Section 2-2, Exercise of Power. Wayne Brown expressed that the County
Commissioners seem to be doing more than the Home Rule Charter allows according to the
wording of this sentence. Kay Norton answered questions and it was determined that
there should be some changes made in this area. She elaborated on the fact that
implications are not known often times until something has actually happened, and the
consequences of all legal actions have been challenged.
Article III , Section 3-4, Terms of Office. Blair Macy noted his concern with
(.t ) of this section . there was general discussion from the group regarding
two consecutive terms, restrictions on office and taking decisions away from the voters.
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Section 3-6, Commissioner - Departments. It was generally agreed that the department
heads should be asked if this method is working presently.
Section 3-8, Powers and Duties. (4)(b). It was the general consensus of the group
that the problems of legality with contracts being signed without an ordinance would
_. continuef to create trouble worded the way it is in this section. Wayne Brown stressed
concern with (c) of this Section also regarding office hours of County officials,
department heads and elected officials. Gordon Lacy commented on (d) of this section
regarding retaining such other professional advisors as the Board may deem necessary.
Barbara Sloan mentioned the feasibility of a business manager as a professional
advisor. John -Kunzman questioned (g) as to whether this should be more clearly stated
to include defense as well as initiation of suits on behalf of the county. Kay Norton
offered an explanation noting that this would automatically include defense, but this
section could be more clearly stated. It was agreed that (n) also could use some
additional clarification and improvement. John Kunzman stated he felt (r) should also
include rural conferences as well as municipal conferences.
Section 3-10, Rules of Procedures. John Kunzman indicated that this was an area of
concern to him regarding the specific wording of official meetings and the question
of what to do in an emergency situation
Section 3-14 - Ordinances. This again was discussed as an area of concern. Barbara
Sloan offered her views regarding (6) the 4/5 vote "may be" enacted. Kay Norton
explained questions regarding this. Gordon Lacy asked for an explanation of (9) from
Kay Norton, in the first sentence. She explained codified as putting into titles
and articles and more easily defining permanent ordinances.
Section 3-15 - Vacancies. At this point it was noted by Wayne Brown how inappro-
priately cross-referenced the Home Rule Charter is. Several Committee members agreed
with Wayne's concern.
Article IV, Section 4-1 , Departments Created. Wayne Brown asked why all the depart-
ments were under only five headings. This seemed to be too general for some depart-
ments. Several members agreed. Kay Norton explained the questions and pointed out
that again, when the department heads are invited to attend sessions later on, their
points of view may be very helpful . William Butler questioned (7) of this section
"Nothing herein" as being too broad a term. Kay Norton explained that that term
would refer to this section only. Gordon Lacy had questions regarding rotation of
coordinators on a yearly basis.
Section 4-2, Department of Finance, Central Purchasing and Personnel . John Kunzman
showed serious concern in (8)(f) pointing out that the second sentence shows dis-
crimination. He felt strongly that any person employed with the county seeking
election, whether it be elected officials or not, should request a leave of absence,
without pay. He noted the second sentence of (f) should be eliminated in its
entirety. This area will be studied in detail later on. Gordon Lacy commented on (g)
regarding office hours of all departments.
Line 17 of (6) offered an area of some corfern regarding elected officials having direct
authority over the employees in their department. Section (8) instigated questions
as to who is the Board of Appeals. Kay Norton explained the Board of Appeals and
Grievance Committee.
Because of the time, it was decided to stop at this point, and at the next meeting
the committee would begin with Section 4-3, Department of Health Services of Article
IV.
Wayne Brown showed concern that more than one meeting a month might prove beneficial .
It was decided to continue with one meeting a month, the next one being May 18, 1977
at 7:00 o'clock in the same location.
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On motion duly made and seconded , and there being no further business , the ,meeting
was adjourned at 9:20 P.M.
APPROVED:
WELD COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER
AMENDMENT STU COMMITTEE
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