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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — JANUARY 9, 2023 37 City Attorney Jamnik stated it would be appropriate to table action on this item. MOTION: Mayor Grant moved and Councilmember Rousseau seconded a motion to table action on the 2023 City Council Appointments for Commissions and Committees and Mayor Pro-Tem. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried 3-2 (Councilmember Holden and Mayor Grant opposed). 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 12. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Rousseau thanked the residents in attendance. She stated she hoped future Council meetings would go better. Councilmember Monson commented on Saturday she spent the day working with the Resilient Cities and Communities Group. Councilmember Holden reviewed the motions that were taken this evening, which was to remove Mayor Grant's mayoral privilege, to remove Mayor Grant from the JDA, and to appoint a six day Councilmember as the Mayor Pro-Tem. She reported these actions were taken by three new, inexperienced Councilmembers. She discussed how the new Councilmembers have impugned the reputation of the Mayor. She anticipated these actions would only continue to divide the community and the City Council. She commented on how a newly elected official was overheard by staff that they were planning on terminating staff members. She discussed how wrongful terminations can open up the City to lawsuits and declining staff morale. She encouraged the new Councilmembers to not talk about their plan in front of staff or a room full of people. She stated she has already observed several violations of the open meeting law and noted the newly elected Councilmembers should know better, based on all of their experience. She feared how the City would be opened up to law suits if this behavior continued. She hoped the City could continuing having good governance. She reported it was estimated it took newly elected officials six to twelve months to gain a basic knowledge of City government. However, the City was now being run by three newly elected officials with no government experience. She discussed how she would like the Council to build trust by working together and sharing ideas. She encouraged the new Councilmembers to do what is best for the City of Arden Hills. She reiterated that the newly elected Councilmembers were not voted in by every member of the community. She hoped collaboration, transparency and good government would prevail because she feared how Arden Hills would move forward with such high levels of disfunction. Lastly, she thanked everyone who attended the meeting tonight. Mayor Grant thanked all of the residents who attended the meeting. He reported he represented all members of the community. He discussed how the previous Council worked together to accomplish many things. He hoped that this Council would be able to get to the same place. He explained he was very saddened by the leadership being shown by the Council. He indicated he would continue to work for all residents of Arden Hills. He encouraged residents to contact him with their comments or concerns.