2003-03-12 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Centervi11e City CotDlci1 Meeting Minutes February 26, 2003 - Council Member Paar indicated he had also made it clear that no alcohol would be pmd for and that Council Members.would be paying for their meals. Council Member Capra commented that the resident that called Council Member Paar had called her and said that Council Member Paar had said that this. was being done as a gesture because the former Council was so hard on Staff. She then asked if that was his comment. Council Member Paar clarified that he had told her that there were issues with former Council and Staff and when he said that she had started bringing up issues and he had told her he wanted to move forward. He further clarified that he had told the resident that if the Mayor had suggested an extravagant weekend retreat at great expense to the City he would have been opposed but he feels this dinner is a nominal cost for the potential gain to the City. He also said that she was concerned with the legalities of the dinner and he had told her that the City Attorney advised that it was appropriate for the City to pay for the dinner for employees. Council Member Capra commented that on the note of the previous Council being hard on the Staff she would agree that they were hard on Staff but said it took over a year to get answers on the finances of the City. Council Member Broussard Vickers indicated she did not feel it was appropriate to be discussing former Council and former issues. Council Member Paar commented, for the record, that he never said that the Council was hard on the Staff: he had said there were some teJ:?Bions be~een both Council and Staff. Council Member Capra indicated she is supportive of Staff as she feels the City is on the right track and making headway. She then said that the City dealt with the Christmas party two years ago and had a memo from the League of Minnesota Cities indicating that it was inappropriate. City Attorney Hoeft indicated that was not correct. Council Member Capra indicated she had found a reference to it in the November 2001 minutes. She then said that when the reporter called her and asked questions, she told them to contact other Council Members because she would not be recalling the matter as hers was not the deciding vote. Council Member Broussard Vickers indicated that she is concerned that Council Member Capra goes outside. the City whenever she disagrees with an opinion given here to get verificati~nof her opinion. She then said that this is not the first time and she has concerns with Council Member Capra calling the State Auditor and bringing issues to their attention that the Council, as a whole, has already decided on. She further commented that she had received an opinion from the Attorney on the matter and voted accordingly. Council Member Capra asked whether Council wished to recall the matter. Page 17 of20