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ROCEEDINGS OF THE OMMON OUNCIL
CO, W
ITY OF SHKOSHISCONSIN
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING held Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at 12:07 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, City Hall.
Mayor Castle presided.
PRESENT: Council Members Bryan Bain, Paul Esslinger, Shirley Mattox, Meredith
Scheuermann, Burk Tower, Frank Tower, William Castle
ALSO PRESENT: Richard Wollangk, City Manager, Pamela Ubrig, City Clerk, Warren Kraft,
City Attorney and David Patek, Director of Public Works
NOTE: Mayor William Castle and the newly elected Council Members (Bryan Bain, Shirley
Mattox, Meredith Scheuermann) took their oath of office which was administered by the City
Clerk before the start of the meeting.
Mayor Castle thanked Mayor Harris and Council Member Poeschl for their service.
Mayor called three times for nominations of Deputy Mayor for the Common Council.
Council Member Esslinger nominated Council Member F. Tower for Deputy Mayor.
MOTION:CLOSE NOMINATIONS FOR DEPUTY MAYOR AND ELECT COUNCIL
MEMBER F. TOWER AS DEPUTY MAYOR BY ACCLAMATION
(Esslinger; second, B. Tower)
CARRIED:Ayes (7) Bain, Esslinger, Mattox, Scheuermann, B. Tower, F. Tower, Castle
The Council seating assignments were decided as follows: (starting with the seat farthest to
the right of the Mayor) Shirley Mattox, Meredith Scheuermann, Frank Tower, William Castle,
Burk Tower, Bryan Bain, Paul Esslinger.
Council Member F. Tower explained he researched various Council meetings in the area
and explained they do not offer an opportunity for citizens to speak during the Council
meetings. He explained various reasons for changing the rule regarding citizen statements.
He also suggested moving the citizen statements to the beginning of the meeting and
reminded citizens to respect the same rules that Council must abide by.
Council Member B. Tower explained he would like to see the citizen statements changed but
not removed. He stated he would support removing the limit to Council member comments
on an agenda item.
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Proceedings of the Common Council – April 19, 2005
Council Member Esslinger explained he would not support any of the proposals and stated
the present rules work. He explained that the council meeting is a business meeting and the
business portion should be handled prior to hearing citizen statements. He questioned if
concerns of citizens could be addressed earlier than during the Council portion of the
meeting.
Council Member Mattox explained she would not support either of the proposals and stated
that the Council was there for the public. She explained she would not want citizen
statements to be moved to the beginning of the meeting. She stated she would support
responding to citizen concerns or questions. She suggested that Council Members give an
explanation when not supporting an issue.
Council Member Bain stated he would like to have a definition to what is pertinent to the city
regarding citizen statements. He questioned if Council Members can speak on items or
issues that are not listed on the agenda.
Mayor Castle stated he would support removing citizen statements from the agenda. He
explained that if citizens ask questions on items that were on the agenda, Council or staff
would try to answer. He reminded Council that the rules could be changed at any time.
Council Member Scheuermann explained that once a quarter for citizens to make statements
to Council was not enough.
Mr. Kraft suggested that Council Members get their prepared statements to the City Clerk by
noon the Monday before the meeting.
MOTION:ADOPT COMMON COUNCIL RULES (Bain; second, F. Tower)
MOTION:AMEND COUNCIL RULES TO LIMIT CITIZEN STATEMENTS TO
NOT EXCEED ONE PER CALENDER QUARTER (B. Tower; second, F.
Tower)
LOST:Ayes (3) B. Tower, F. Tower, Castle;
Noes (4) Bain, Esslinger, Mattox, Scheuermann
MOTION:AMEND TO MOVE CITIZEN STATEMENTS TO BEGINNING OF
MEETING (F. Tower; no second)
LOST:LACK OF SECOND
MOTION:DELETE – COUNCIL MEMBER ALLOWED TO SPEAK A MAXIMUM
OF TWO TIMES ON ANY ONE AGENDA ITEM (F. Tower; second,
Esslinger)
CARRIEDAyes (7) Bain, Esslinger, Mattox, Scheuermann, B. Tower, F, Tower,
Castle
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Proceedings of the Common Council – April 19, 2005
MOTION:ADD – WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER CASTING A NEGATIVE VOTE –
GIVE A REASON (Mattox; second, Esslinger)
CARRIED:Ayes (6) Bain, Esslinger, Mattox, Scheuermann, B. Tower, Castle;
Noes (1) F. Tower
MOTION:COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO HAVE STATEMENTS TO CITY CLERK
BY NOON THE MONDAY PRIOR TO COUNCIL MEETING
(F. Tower; second, Bain)
CARRIEDAyes (7) Bain, Esslinger, Mattox, Scheuermann, B. Tower, F, Tower,
Castle
VOTE ON COUNCIL RULES AS AMENDED:
CARRIED:Ayes (7) Bain, Esslinger, Mattox, Scheuermann, B. Tower, F, Tower,
Castle
Whatever Else is Pertinent or For the Good of The City
There was no other business before the Council.
MOTION:ADJOURN (Esslinger; second, F. Tower)
CARRIED:VOICE VOTE
The meeting adjourned at 12:49 p.m.
PAMELA R. UBRIG
CITY CLERK
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