05-26-1998 Charter Commission Regular Meeting - 1 -
Minutes of the Hopkins Charter Commission
May 26, 1998
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on May 26. Present were Commission members: Robert
Anderson, Marjorie Mathison Hance, Paul Lund, Henry Pokorny, James Shirley, Harry Smith,
and Warren Woodrich. Assistant City Manager Jim Genellie and Finance Director Lori Yager
were also present.
The meeting was brought to order at 7:07 p.m.
Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
The Commission approved the minutes of April 28, 1998.
Unfinished Business
Lori Yager, the City’s Finance Director, reported on the City Council’s discussion regarding the
proposed Charter amendments. The Council did not see a problem with raising the contract
amount that would require bids from $15,000 to $25,000. The Council was also comfortable
with the idea of eliminating the prelist as long as there was other documentation that would allow
the Council to review the bills. The Council was split on increasing the purchasing authority of
the City Manager. The Council was especially concerned about contracts for professional
services.
The Commission then discussed the advisability of on increasing the purchasing authority of the
City Manager. Some Commissioners felt it was a way to preserve Council authority others
thought it was micromanaging. After some discussion the Commission decided to vote
separately on each change to the Charter.
The Commission voted unanimously to amend Section 6.06, which would increase the City
Manager’s purchasing authority.
Commissioner Mathison Hance had a question concerning the reasons for amending Section 6.07
that would raise the contract amount that would require bids from $15,000 to $25,000. Lori
Yager explained the formal bid process was cumbersome and time consuming. The City would
also continue to seek multiple quotes on items that cost less than $25,000. The Commission
voted unanimously to amend Section 6.07.
The Commission voted unanimously to amend Section 7.04. The changes to this section were
some minor wording changes regarding the annual budget.
The Commission voted unanimously to amend Section 7.06. This was another minor wording
change.
The Commission voted unanimously to amend Section 7.10. The amendments to this Section
concerned Council pre-approval of all bills.
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At this point Commissioner Shirley moved and Commissioner Lund seconded the motion to
approve Commission Resolution 98-1 recommending that the City Council approve Ordinance
98-812 amending the City Charter. The vote was unanimous.
New Business
The Commission set its next meeting for Tuesday, April 27, 1999.
Adjournment.
Commission Mathison Hance moved and Commissioner Shirley seconded the motion to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.