Greenwood paves way for supervisors to attend every single meeting in the township
OCTOBER 11, 2016 — Supervisor Jeff Maus has emphasized that he visualizes a transparent, open government since his recent appointment to the town board. He has advocated strongly for public input and establishing clarity of process to assure the public has every opportunity to be aware of all agenda items in advance and can make informed comment. With these goals in mind Maus placed several items on the October 11 Greenwood Town Board meeting agenda. The first item he addressed considers a process for proposals brought before the township. “When people bring proposals to the board they often request a board motion,” Maus said. He suggested that the board establish a Wednesday deadline, the week prior to any meeting, so that all proposals can be put on the meeting agenda, and the public has the opportunity to be informed that it is being considered. Maus put his idea in the form of a motion, and Supervisor Randy Kladivo supported it. During discussion, however, it was decided that the current practice of having the public work through a board supervisor to get their requests heard was an adequate practice and Maus rescinded his motion.
Continuing, Maus told the board that he was concerned that his serving on the board of supervisors trampled on his rights as a citizen. The open meeting law generally prohibits any three board members (a quorum), of a five person town board, from attending any meeting that is not posted as a town board meeting. “My rights as a citizen get stomped on,” Maus said, “It’s not right!”
Maus said that he learned from township attorney Michael Couri that the town board could simply add an addendum to every meeting notice of any board, committee or commission of the township stating that three or more town board supervisors might be in attendance.
Supervisor Carmen DeLuca strongly objected saying that he wanted nothing to do with this idea. Kladivo agreed with DeLuca. “I tend to agree. Even if there is no intent it could present a bad impression,” Kladivo said.
A motion to notice every meeting of the township as having the potential to have a quorum of town board supervisors present passed with support from Maus, Chairman Dr. John Bassing and Supervisor Gene Baland voting in favor. DeLuca and Kladivo voted against the motion.
DeLuca announced that he was no longer interested in working with Kladivo on developing an employee policy handbook, as he had earlier volunteered, because the board passed this motion.
Maus was unable to get any of his other suggested board process policies passed. He rescinded his motion to limit any change to town board meeting agendas, once they were published on the township’s web site, to only those items with a specific deadline significance when he realized he did not have support for this suggested policy. A motion he made to create a policy that any documents presented to the town board for approval would be required to be in a “final format” died for a lack of support.
Citizens were reminded that the close of business Wednesday, before any Tuesday town board meeting, was the deadline to have topics placed on the agenda and that they need to work through a supervisor who can have the topic put on the agenda.
ALCOHOL POLICY TO REMAIN; SIGN TO COME DOWN
The town board again discussed its alcohol policy and approved eliminating the alcohol policy sign at the new pavilion area. The sign was authorized by the board at the township’s August meeting. Supervisor Maus reported that he has looked into the issues again and that he has since learned that the Minnesota Association of Townships and that Mike Couri told him that very little liability would occur if the township did not have a policy. He suggested that the town board revisit the issue and that his main concern was that since there was a policy the town board make every effort to let the public know that the policy entailed.
Chairman Bassing said that he looked at the policies created by Virginia, Ely, Hibbing and Tower when he wrote the existing policy. “It goes not only to liability, but to decorum and reputation,” Bassing said.
Supervisor DeLuca agreed. “I agree with you,” he said, “It’s a tool—in case we have to call law enforcement.”
The town board decided that it would keep the existing policy in place, but unanimously approved removing the alcohol policy sign from the pavilion area.
CLAIMS APPROVED FOLLOWING DISSENT
After reviewing the monthly claims against the township, DeLuca objected to paying $91.82 in reimbursement for printer ink for a claim submitted by Supervisor Baland. DeLuca motioned to pay all of the claims except Baland’s. Chairman Bassing supported his motion. Baland said that it has been the past practice of the township to reimburse supervisors for this type of expense. “I don’t think it’s out of line,” Baland added.
I never get any printer’s ink,” DeLuca retorted, “come to the office to get your printing.”
Supervisor Jeff Maus indicated he would support paying the reimbursement. “If he says he’s using it for township business, I trust him,” Maus said. DeLuca’s motion failed. He and Bassing voted for the motion, and Maus, Baland and Supervisor Randy Kladivo voted against the motion.
Kladivo then moved to pay all the claims as presented ($62,489.75). DeLuca supported this motion, which passed with only Chairman Bassing voting against.
SOLID WASTE RECYCLING TO REMAIN AT TOWN HALL
The town board decided that it would continue having St. Louis County Solid Waste recycling canisters available for public use at the town hall campus. Chairman Bassing reported that he had received three calls from residents requesting that the canisters remain and the township received a letter from Vermilion Club owner Greg Archibald. He informed the town board that his business was dependent on having daily access to recycling canisters to keep up with the large amounts of glass being recycled by the business.
The canister site had become an issue of concern over the summer following the maintenance director Pat Trancheff’’s absence following a work related injury. Trancheff kept the canister site clean on a daily basis however, upon his absence, the area soon became difficult to keep presentable. The Fourth of July holiday weekend found the township facing overflowing canisters and recyclables piling up outside of the canister bins. The town board was considering having county solid waste remove the canisters as it looked for ways to remedy the mess.
Supervisor Kladivo said that he believed that year-around residents were conscientious about keeping the area clean, but that seasonal recreation people, who might not understand the importance of keeping the area clean, might be the source of some of the problems. A motion to keep the recycling center at the town hall campus was made by Supervisor DeLuca, supported by Kladivo, and was unanimously approved by the town board.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
In August the town board appointed Julia Maki to serve as the fire department administrative assistant. That appointment was for 60 days. Fire Chief Dave Fazio recommended that the town board make the appointment permanent. Supervisor Maus questioned the appointment. “Are there any legal entanglements we should consider?” Maus asked.
“Past practice has been that the Fire Chief’s recommended appointment is then approved by the board,” Fazio said.
The board instead unanimously opted to appoint Maki for another 60 days, choosing to look at the position again before the end of the year.
FIRE CHIEF’S AND SAFETY DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Fire Chief Dave Fazio reminded the town board that the department was still waiting for the township to pass a resolution authorizing the transfer of firefighter pensions to the Public Employees Retirement Account (PERA). The town board previously gave its approval for the change, however the board has yet to approve the necessary resolution. Fazio reminded the board that he had provided a sample resolution and that the department was facing a November deadline so the changes could be implemented on January 1. Supervisor DeLuca asked Fazio to confirm the deadline so that the town board could resolve the issue at its regular November meeting. “We could also call a special meeting, if necessary,” DeLuca said.
Chief Fazio again asked the town board to consider raising the annual retirement account contribution by $200 annually. The current contribution is $1,900 and Fazio explained that the annual contribution will be frozen for five years when the pensions are transferred to PERA. The freeze will prevent any further raises for five years, according to PERA policy. Chairman Bassing noted that he would like to see a report on five, ten and 15 year obligations before he would consider any raise to the pension.
Greenwood fire fighters participated in five training events, two meetings, four EMS calls and six fire calls during September, Chief Fazio reported.
Township Safety Director Ed Borchard reported that on December 6 the fire department was providing the opportunity for fire fighters to complete the necessary Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines physicals. Borchard asked the town board if would like to consider conducting drug testing at the same time. The consensus of the board was that employee policies would need to be clarified before it considered any such testing. Borchard reported that the cost of the physicals will be $65 each.
Concluding discussion and action on fire department matters the town board authorized seeking outside service and maintenance on fire department equipment before winter.
GREENWOOD COMMUNITY RECREATION ASSOCIATION REPORT
Jari Ankrum reported to the town board future plans of the Greenwood Community Recreation Association. “We are working on obtaining low voltage holiday lights to decorate the pavilion,” Ankrum said. The group also intends to install lighted Christmas trees to decorate the area, she said. The warming house–skating shack has also been cleaned out and is now ready for the ice skating season, Ankrum reported.
“Dave Fazio has completed installing the rock work on the pavilion and we are very grateful for his help,” Ankrum reported.
“There were lots of people who volunteered to help finish the rock work,” Fazio said. “I only played a part in that.”
Concluding her presentation, Ankrum again thanked the town board for its help. “Thanks to the Greenwood Town Board for all of its support,” she said. “Both monetizing the project and voting your approval,” Ankum said. She again asked the town board to approve allowing the recreation association to begin looking at playground equipment but the board only listened to the request and took no action. This is the second or third time a representative from the recreation association asked for board approval on investigating playground options, but it appears that the town board has little interest in granting the request.
In other action, the Greenwood Town Board of Supervisors:
• Accepted the recommendation of the township attorney to approve spending $8,582.69, including all taxes and fees, for a Western World–Stratford Directors and Officers and Employment Practices insurance policy. The town board gave its unanimous approval for accepting the policy
• Approved sending proposed firefighters paid on call guidelines and fire department operation guidelines to the township attorney for review. The board approved changing the required participation for paid on call from 15 percent to two calls annually, one each half-year.
• Approved September 30 township account balances of $550,318.10 in checking, $307,485.03 in savings and $251,273.24 in long term investments for a total balance of $1,109,076.37
• Acknowledged the completion of the transfer of all planing and zoning responsibilities from the township to St. Louis County
• Approved final payment of the final bills incurred on the construction of the township’s new tennis court
• Learned that township attorney Michael Couri recommends refusing a citizen request to release all email correspondence between himself and Supervisor Baland. The correspondence is considered attorney-client privledge and townships are not subject to Minnesota data privacy act rules according to Couri
• Received quotes for snowplowing from Travis Kladivo
• Approved seeking bids for a fire alarm system for the firehall and town hall
• Listened to an apology from Chairman Bassing who said that he was in error when he failed to state the specific reasons the town board was closing its September 28 meeting. “I usually do better than this,” Bassing acknowledged
• Learned that the Tower-Soudan Athletic Association will be hosting its autumn fundraising event on November 10 at Fortune Bay Resort
• Approved the minutes of the September 13, regular meeting and the September 28, 2016 special meeting of the board of supervisors
• Acknowledged the receipt of the certificate of insurance for the township’s Morton building.
• Heard a report from Chairman Bassing that the Comprehensive Plan should be completed before the township’s November meeting and the board could then request reimbursement of expenses from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
• Learned that Chairman Bassing would still like to turn over 911 numbering responsibilities to St. Louis County. Bassing acknowledged, however, “I know that I do not have the votes.”