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Stacy Council makes changes - Will hold two meetings a month beginning in MarchBy Barbara Brown Mayor Kathi Lawrence said a member of the Stacy Lions Club offered his services as a facilitator to get the council members talking and possibly root out what may be laying under what seems like constant bickering on the council. The council, which until Feb. 12, was obviously divided said it would be willing to sit with the facilitator if the service were free. Temporary council member Greg Kaslow was sworn in Feb. 12. His presence could potentially end a consistent stream of 2-2 votes, which generally pitted Lawrence and Councilman John Walz against Council members Katie Davidson and Barb Otterson. Lawrence said she wanted the mediator to ìair some of the problems we have. ìUntil we sit down and figure out what the issues are, I donít think weíre a good council.î Sparking much contention has been communication among the council members and between the members and city attorney Peter Grundhoeffer. Earlier in the month, Lawrence did not attend a Lent Township meeting called to settle on the proposed joint powers agreement for a new firehall. Lawrence had claimed that Grundhoeffer told the council not to attend because he could not be there. Grundhoeffer said he did not relay that message. He told the mayor simply that he would not be able to go to the meeting. ìI did not adviser her to tell the council not to show up,î Grundhoeffer said. Lawrence suggested that council members were costing the city too much money when they called Grundhoeffer with questions. The council agreed that questions to Grundhoeffer should not be related directly, but through the city clerk or through the mayor. Grundhoeffer said he would send an answer through the clerk or mayor and also send a written copy of his response through electronic mail or by FAX to the clerkís office in an effort to thwart miscommunication. ìThis is a step in the right direction,î Grundhoeffer told the council. ìI donít want to be caught in the middle of this anymore.î Also at the Feb. 12 meeting, the council voted to hold two regular meetings each month, increasing from the current one meeting, starting in March. Recent meetings have lasted up to five hours, starting at 7 p.m. and ending at midnight, with business remaining unfinished and on the agenda for months. Otterson suggested the council have two meetings per month and not be paid for work sessions that could be called at any time. The council is paid a set amount for regular council meetings. Lawrence had suggested the council have one permanent special meeting per month, which would be paid, along with the regular council meeting. ìWeíre going to have two city council meetings for the same rate of pay and if we call a work session weíre still not going to get paid for that,î Lawrence said during discussion. ìHow much time are we going to volunteer for this position,î Lawrence asked the council. ©ECM Post Review |