HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole October 13 19981
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Committee Of The Whole
October 13, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Council Chair Robert Imhof in the
Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present: Absent:
Kathy Sutter None
Marlene Dawson
L. Ward Nelson
Connie Hoag
Barbara Brenner
Tom Brown
Nelson moved to go into executive session for 60 minutes to discuss items 1 -3.
Motion carried unanimously.
1. DISCUSSION WITH PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR JEFF MONSEN REGARDING
PENDING NEGOTIATIONS (AB98 -020)
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MASTER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS (AB98 -360)
3. DISCUSSION WITH CIVIL DEPUTY PROSECUTOR DAN GIBSON REGARDING
APPROVAL TO FILE COLLECTION ACTION (AB98 -020)
(Clerk's Note: The executive session was adjourned to discuss item #4 on the public
record.)
4. DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAFTING AMENDMENTS TO WHATCOM
COUNTY CODE 2.02, COUNTY COUNCIL.
Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated that she wanted to re -write the section
of the Whatcom County Code that pertains to the Council office. She questioned whether the
Council would want to add sections regarding quorums and voting. This section would contain
information regarding voting requirements. Sections could also be added regarding minutes -
taking, parliamentary motions, and rules of debate. The rules of debate section would define the
parliamentary procedure regarding debate.
Nelson stated that a lot of the decisions on procedure are at the chair's prerogative.
Committee of the Whole, 10/13/98, Page 1
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Imhof stated that clarification is needed on use and abuse of Council staff. He is unsure
of how that would be handled. Some council members create large volumes of paper, and staff
has other responsibilities. The paperwork is not pertinent to what the County Council has
authorized, such as Brenner's appeal of the infectious waste permit.
Brenner stated that she did not file the appeal on behalf of the Council. Imhof
responded that the information was on County Council letterhead. When action is requested
from agencies, they question whether the full Council approved the action.
Brenner stated that she was clear that she was representing herself as a Council member,
which is her job.
Sutter stated that this is the reason clarification is needed. It would end this kind of
discussion. It is appropriate to have established guidelines. She questions the appropriateness
every time she writes a letter. She runs the request by staff and legal counsel to make sure it is
appropriate.
Dawson stated that the Bellingham Herald questioned her about using County letterhead.
Guidelines need to be clarified.
Hoag stated that if guidelines are going to be established, then Council members should
talk as a Council about what those guidelines should be.
Imhof stated that staff should not be doing letters to the editor or other individual letters.
Hoag stated that if a Council member is representing the constituents, it is his or her job
to have letters written by staff on letterhead.
Imhof stated that it is not staff's job to do self - serving letters to the editor, as all letters
to the editor are. If a Council member wants to write a letter to the editor, it is his or her
prerogative, but it is not a County function.
Hoag stated that if a Council member is doing something on behalf of the constituents,
then it is appropriate that staff assist them in that activity.
Dawson stated that guidelines could say that generally the staff would write no letter to
the editor, unless the full Council approves it.
Nelson stated that when he served as chair, he established a procedure with the staff that
if they had any questions about anything, it would go to the chair. The County Council staff
works for the chair, not individually for the Council members. Staff works for the chair that the
Council members elect. It is not fair to put staff in the position to have to decide what work is
done for the Council members. The work schedule has to be done by one messenger, not seven.
Chair.
Hoag stated that Brown -Davis is the Clerk of the Council, not the Clerk of the Council
Committee of the Whole, 10/13/98, Page 2
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Brenner stated that there has never been a time that staff has not told her they didn't
have time to do something when they were truly busy.
Imhof stated that staff members have put other work aside to do work for council
members.
Hoag stated that if something is being represented as the Council taking action, then it
needs to have the chair's signature. Otherwise, if an individual is taking action as a Council
member, no other Council member has the right to say they can't do that.
Imhof stated that Municipal Research Service is going to provide information on how
other counties handle such situations. It hasn't arrived yet. When that information arrives,
Council members can review the information.
F1 lam" 1M
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on , 1998.
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Robert Imhof, Council Member
Committee of the Whole, 10/13/98, Page 3