HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 13 2015 Rules and Bylaws Subcommittee Minutes MEETING MINUTES
RULES AND BYLAWS SUBCOMMITTEE
February 13, 2015 8:00 AM
County Board Room-Government Center
County Board Room - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived
Ron Kiesler St. Croix County Supervisor Present
Roy Sjoberg St. Croix County Supervisor Present
Jill Ann Berke St. Croix County Supervisor Present
Others present: County Board Chair Roger Larson, County Board Vice-Chair Dave
Ostness, Tim Ramberg, Bob Mittet, Kristen Ziliak, Scott Cox, John Allegro, Cindy
Campbell, Pat Thompson, Fred Johnson, Joan Sprain and Kathy Spott.
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Rules and Bylaws Subcommittee - Regular - Feb 2, 2015 3:00 PM
The minutes were accepted with direction to change reference to first names to title and
last name.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Follow Up: Amendments from 2-2-15 Meeting
Chair Sjoberg outlined the order of business the Committee would be discussing:
1. Re-read and make sure no issues remain in Articles I & II
2. Continue and complete review of Article IV
3. Review new Article III (Old Article IX) - Meetings of the County Board
4. Articles V & VI
Chair Sjoberg made changes to the title page to reflect the date originally adopted, future
dates restated and the effective date once adopted.
Article I discussion. Section F title changed to “Absences, Vacancies and Removal or
Impeachment.” Corporation Counsel Cox will include language similar to Eau Claire
County.
Article II discussion. Change title from “Officers and Duties” to “Officers” as the article
contains more than just duties. Reordered County Board Chair meetings to start with
mandatory meetings. Discussion and amendments to County Board Chair duties in
regard to meeting conveners and attendance at department head meetings. County
Administrator Thompson and Corporation Counsel Cox to offer language that clarifies
the County Administrator’s role with department head meetings and include the
expectation of working together with the County Board Chair. Added a permanent
absence section for the County Board Chair and Vice Chair.
Article IV discussion on Standing Committee election ballots and appointed and elected
Standing Committees procedures at the even numbered year organizational meeting.
Decision to make clear that the County Board Chair and Vice Chair are elected first,
County Administrator appointments to the Health and Human Services Board are
confirmed by the Board and then election by a signed, written ballot of the remaining
four Standing Committees in alphabetical order. Added and modified language to clarify
the term of office for Standing Committee members, member limitations and
organization.
Discussion of how a Supervisor can add items to a future Standing Committee agenda if
the Chair doesn’t want the item added. The Committee agreed to add “Future Agenda
Items” to Standing Committee agendas before or after “Correspondence.” If the Chair
refuses, the Supervisor may request another Standing Committee member to support
placing the item on the next agenda. If the request comes after the last meeting and
prior to the next, the Supervisor may do the same with the second supporting Supervisor
contacting the Chair. The item will then be placed on the agenda for discussion purposes
only. Corporation Counsel Cox will check on a related Attorney General opinion.
Discussion on public comment protocol being the same for Standing Committees and the
County Board. Remove consensus of a group language.
Discussion regarding Standing Committee common responsibility for approving requests
for unbudgeted funding sources. This issue should be discussed by the COTW.
The Committee took a break at 10:00 a.m.
Decision to offer language for unbudgeted funding sources: “In cooperation with the
Department Head establish a process for handling unbudgeted funding sources that
exceed the approved budget.”
Administration Committee to have 7 members with County Board Chair and 6 other
elected Supervisors. It was noted to add this to the County Board Chair’s duties in
Article II.
Administration Committee duties added and revised regarding employee compensation
plan and elected officials compensation. Corporation Counsel Cox to refine the language
for the March 13th meeting. Management Analyst Ziliak and Corporation Counsel Cox to
clarify the claims process and the Administration Committee’s role. Discussion
regarding copying the Committee on the auditor’s annual claims letter.
The Committee accepted or made minor changes to the remaining Standing Committee
duties.
2. Continued Rules and Bylaws Review
The Committee started a clean review of Article III Meetings of the County Board.
Agenda and minutes preparation language to be updated with the new statutory language
and include new language allowing Supervisors to place items on the County Board
agenda for discussion without Chair consent. Add “Future Agenda Items” to the agenda,
move department reports up and remove “old and new” and leave “Business.”
Chair Sjoberg spoke to the Invocation currently on the agenda that it should be
nondenominational or no invocation at all. Corporation Counsel Cox referred to a
Supreme Court decision last spring that allows Christian prayer. Chair Sjoberg said what
we do is legal but it may send a message of being exclusionary. Committee discussed
different options. Committee decision to remove “Invocation” and replace with “Moment
of Silence and Reflection” and discuss further at Committee of the Whole.
Committee decision to remove language on first being recognized by a Supervisor and
leave the public comment guidelines except for the language referring to a consensus of a
group. Residents and non-residents will be allowed a reasonable amount of time to speak
on items on or off the agenda. Public comment language will be the same for County
Board and Standing Committees.
Corporation Counsel will review and fill in any blanks in Article V and VI prior to the
next meeting.
The next and final meeting date for the final read was scheduled for Friday, March 13th
from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. It is planned to have the Rules and Bylaws go before the
Committee of the Whole in April and the County Board in May.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at Noon.