At the first Becker City Council meeting of the new year Tuesday, the members discussed the censure of the mayor, organizational and committee appointments and upcoming community events.

 

At the Dec. 15 council workshop, Mayor Lefty Kleis asked council to consider the removal of his censure — saying it was preventing him from doing the job he was elected to.

 

Kleis has been on the current censure for two years and has indicated he would like the opportunity to participate as a member on the golf management committee.

 

At the workshop, members discussed the lifting of the censure but decided not to remove the censure for the fact the mayor has shown no change in behavior since the passing of the censure and they also felt that placing the mayor and Director of Golf Troy Malo on the same committee was a recipe for failure.

 

Tuesday, Member Rick Hendrickson said over the last few weeks since the workshop, he had been contacted by several members of the city and individuals in the community who said the censure should continue since the mayor creates a hostile work environment. 

 

Hendrickson said he talked to City Attorney Scott Lepak and they drafted a new censure resolution that would allow for a “buffer” (or witness) to be present each and every time the mayor conducts any in-person, phone or email communication with persons of the city.

 

Hendrickson said attorney Lepak told him that if the mayor agrees with the “buffer” system, no public censure would be necessary.

 

“My intention was not to raise another censure (public flogging) but to get the behavior to stop,” said Hendrickson.

 

Hendrickson said he sat down with the mayor and discussed the behavior and the “buffer” idea and that initially the mayor agreed to the system. However, Hendrickson said the mayor called him back a few days later and said he was no longer in agreement with it.

 

Nothing further was discussed and the previous censure will stay intact for 2016 or until further action.

 

The four-member council voted to approve the list of organizational and committee appointments with the mayor voting “naye” because of the censure.

 

Member Hendrickson will serve on budget and finance, EDA, golf management, LPI advisory, police management, Xcel advisory board and as acting mayor.

 

Member Adam Oliver will serve on annexation and joint planning board, fire fighters relief association, personnel, police management and planning commission.

 

Member Tracy Bertram will serve on the annexation and joint planning board, fire joint powers board, LPI advisory, personnel, planning commission and public works.

 

Member Lori Keller will serve on budget and finance, EDA, golf management and park and recreation.

 

Mayor Kleis will serve on fire joint powers board, Northstar Corridor, parks and recreation, public works and Xcel advisory board.

 

Lepak was retained as city attorney, Abdo, Eick & Meyers the city auditor, SEH (Randy Sabart) as city engineer consultant, Sherburne State Bank as official depository and the Citizen-Tribune as the official newspaper.

 

It was also noted that city council meeting start times for the 2016 year went from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting with Tuesday’s meeting. Also, the planning commission meetings moved from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. for their last Monday of the month meetings.

 

Mayor Kleis announced Gerald Lanz of the WWTF was given December’s safety award for promoting work safety and always wearing and using personal protection equipment. Lanz received a $50 gift certificate.

 

City Administrator Greg Pruszinske asked council to approve a resolution accepting a $3,000 donation from the Eddy Foundation for the police department, a $50 donation from Bob’s Towing to the Jingle Jam event and a $100 donation from T.J. Potter Trucking to the Jingle Jam event.

 

Pruszinske also mentioned Judy Bowatz was appointed to the planning commission and Todd Hanrahan to EDA.

 

Pruszinske also presented council with a hiring and termination report for the Becker Community Center.

 

Some of the upcoming community events include: 

 

• The Becker Chamber Expo on Sat., Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Becker Fieldhouse;

 

• A reminder that Christmas trees can be left on city curbs for pickup on Jan. 11;

 

• Another reminder that there is no parking on city streets during the winter months (Nov.-Apr.) from midnight to 8 a.m.;

 

• A final reminder that sidewalks need to be cleared of snow 48 hours following the termination of a snowstorm or the city will charge homeowners to have the walkways cleared by public works.

 

the next Becker City Council meeting is Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.