02-05-2002 Charter Commission Regular Meeting - 1 -
Minutes of the Hopkins Charter Commission
February 5, 2002
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on February 5. Present were Commission members: Sid
Blair, Dorothy Boen, John Frane, Marjorie Hance, John Hutchison, Chuck Kritzler, Henry
Pokorny and Harry Smith. Assistant City Manager Jim Genellie and Captain Jim Liddy were
also present.
The meeting was brought to order at 6:30 p.m.
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair.
Commissioner Kritzler was nominated for Chair and Commissioner Boen was nominated for
Vice-Chair. The Commission voted unanimously to elect Charles Kritzler as Chair and Dorothy
Boen as Vice-Chair.
Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
Commissioner Smith moved and Commissioner Frane seconded a motion to approve the minutes
of April 24, 2001. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Reports.
There were no official reports.
Communications
There were no communications.
New Business
Establishment of the Police Review Committee
Mr. Genellie explained the background and why the Charter had to be amended to create an
alternative to the Police Civil Service Commission (PCSC.) Several Commissioners asked why
the Civil Service Commission could not simply be abolished? Mr. Genellie explained that
several Police Department employees objected to the elimination of the protections offered to
employees by the PCSC in disciplinary matters. Based upon these comments the City Council
was unable to agree to eliminate the PCSC.
Mr. Genellie explained that the proposed committee is a compromise that would streamline the
hiring process while maintaining employee protections.
Several Commissioners questioned the proposed method for appointing committee members.
The Commission preferred having the Council appoint. The Commission also felt that the term
"review" was insufficient. The language was changed to "review, sustain, overturn, or modify".
Commissioner Pokorny moved and Commissioner Frane seconded the motion to approve
amending the Charter to add a Police Review Committee.
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A poll of the vote was as follows: Commissioner Blair, Aye; Commissioner Boen, Aye;
Commissioner Frane, Aye; Commissioner Hance, Abstain; Commissioner Hutchison, Nay;
Commissioner Kritzler, Aye; Commissioner Pokorny, Aye; and Commissioner Smith, Aye. The
motion passed.
Removing the Requirement that an Ordinance becomes effective twenty days after
publication.
Mr. Genellie then presented information about this issue. He explained that occasionally the
delay causes problems when trying to expedite an ordinance change. He also explained that the
City Council would retain the ability to set any effective date they wished on any ordinance.
Commissioner Boen moved and Commissioner Frane seconded the motion to approve amending
the Charter to eliminate the twenty-day waiting period.
A poll of the vote was as follows: Commissioner Blair, Nay; Commissioner Boen, Aye;
Commissioner Frane, Aye; Commissioner Hance, Aye; Commissioner Hutchison, Nay;
Commissioner Kritzler, Aye; Commissioner Pokorny, Aye; and Commissioner Smith, Aye. The
motion passed.
The Commission set its next meeting for February 12, 2002 at 6:30 p.m.
Adjournment.
Commissioner Smith moved and Commissioner Frane seconded the motion to adjourn. The
meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.