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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, May 17, 2007 Page 13 Banks City Council discusses change to Charter on role of mayor The Banks City Council meeting held on May 8, com- menced with a packed agenda. A City proclamation recog- nizing the week of May 20-26, 2007, as Emergency Medical Services Week, followed a presentation by Jan Lee, of Metro West Ambulance. Lee presented a plaque to Mayor Teri Branstitre and Council in recognition of their continued support of Emergency Medical Services personnel in the City of Banks. A proposed amendment to the city charter was debated among council. The amend- ment would extend the mayor’s term from two years to four years, and allow the mayor to vote on all issues. Councilors were unanimous that the term change is appropriate, but dis- agreed about routine votes by the mayor instead of the cur- rent system, which allows the mayor to vote only in case of a tie. The proposed amendment was carried over from the April meeting so Councilor Dan Keller could voice his opposi- tion to the mayoral vote portion of the amendment. This Char- ter Amendment is due to go be- fore the voters on the 2007 fall ballot. Keller held strong to his opinion that the mayor should stand silent and exercise a vote only in the event of a tie. Councilor Pete Edison said the community should be al- lowed to know the position of the mayor, arguing that the change “…allows mayor to have a stronger opinion; not al- lowing the mayor to vote is sil- ly.” Keller disagreed, saying, “I think the mayor will be stronger by breaking the tie.” After tense discussion on the topic, Edison made a motion to approve the proposed amendment as writ- ten. Councilor Brian Biehl sec- onded the motion. Keller then made a motion to amend the proposed amendment to main- tain the current vote status of the mayor and Councilor Jason Short seconded the motion, which passed with a 4-2 vote. City Attorney Jim Lucas will re- view the changes and return the proposed ballot measure to the council for approval at their next meeting. Council approved converting the non-exempt City Recorder/Treasurer Position to an exempt position. A non-ex- empt position is subject to over- time compensation; an exempt position that is compensated with a salary range will assist the city in budget planning. The council determined that the po- sition will hold exempt status with a monthly salary ranging from $3,000 to $4,250. Kathryn ‘Kate’ Mattimore, Co-President of Backflow Man- agement Inc. (BMI) provided in- formation to council regarding approved backflow mechanical units and the different features the devices offered. Council was briefed on the hazards of thermal expansion, common cross-connections, and why the installation of backflow mecha- nisms is required. Mattimore stressed the importance of cre- ating a public education pro- gram and a system for notifying customers of the potential haz- ards. This issue was brought before council due to on-going backflow issues that have aris- en in the Arbor Development. The broken waterline on Wilkes Street which occurred the last week of April has been repaired, according to Fred Evers. When asked if the wa- terline issue is resolved, Evers responded, “No-just bandag- es.” Banks has been working with Schroeder Law Offices to determine the city’s current wa- ter right certificates and permit standing. Following the firm’s recommendation, council con- ceded that they need to obtain the services of a hydrologist to provide the documentation needed to move forward on the water right permit applications; extensions have been filed. Council approved, by a 5-1 vote, amendments to an ordi- nance regulating the posses- sion of replica firearms in public places. City Attorney Lucas will write the amendments into the ordinance for next month’s meeting. Interviews were held April 27 for the position of city engineer. Council will ask for draft con- tract agreements and proposed rate quotes from the top three candidates – KPFF, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, and Landesign Group. Edison updated council on the hiring process for the City Manager. The advertisement drafted by the League of Ore- gon Cities went out this month. The application deadline is June 15. A Municipal Court system was approved by council for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The court budget includes includes costs for Municipal Court Judge Vir- ginia Petersen, for three hours a month, and interpreter costs, as well as anticipated funds from fees and assessments. An inter-governmental agreement (IGA) will be worked out with Forest Grove and Cornelius. Short gave an update on the Park Board’s work to replace the colorspot beds by the gaze- bo in Greenville Park. Of the three choices, replacement of the colorspot beds with six budget change at a public hear- ing. Sunset Park representative Mel Clark reported on Sunset Park compliance and future plans. He said that signs will be posted ‘No Pets in Park’ after receiving complaints about chil- dren having “dog messes” on them. Clark also announced that the Sunset Raceway schedule should now be posted on the park website. The city is seeking volun- teers to fill open Tree Board po- sitions. The tree board will be working with a botanist for fu- ture tree planting, and assess- ment and itemization of trees that currently belong to the city. Interested residents are en- couraged to contact Banks City Hall. Culpepper and Merriweather Circus is due in town, Saturday, May 26. Council commented on the lack of advertisement around the city for this family fun event. The next City Council Meet- ing is June 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Banks City Hall. Don’t miss Culpepper & Merriweather Circus when it comes to town on Saturday, May 26, at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. S TRASSEL ’ S A UTO R EPAIR & H YDRAULIC H OSES 2-4-6 S PIRAL W IRE F LANGE H EAD • S UCTION H OSES A DAPTORS - 3/16” TO 2” B ULK O IL P RODUCTS 276 S UNSET , B ANKS 503-324-9808 SUNSET LAUNDRY Open Everyday 6am - 8pm Main Street, Banks OR 503-324-2424 white and coral Flower Carpet Roses was favorable. The com- mission is also working on a se- curity plan to help eliminate graffiti in the gazebo. Jim Branstitre presented background on Greenville Park regarding the agreement made between the City of Banks and Westhills Development. Ac- cording to Branstitre, no home- owners were given an opportu- nity for third party input into de- cisions for that agreement; there were no homeowners at the time the original agree- ments were made. During the past seven years, the home- owners have funded the park at an expense of $133,000 which has been a savings to the city. Edison noted that homeowners know what they are getting into when they purchase property in the development; in a prior election, voters in Banks de- clined to fund the park. The mayor suggested that a work session be set up prior to next month’s council meeting to brainstorm and “develop some community bonding” on this is- sue. Edison requested the coun- cil to approve budgeting $10,000 in matching funds to be set aside for “park improve- ments, not maintenance”, as a good-faith effort by the city. Council agreed to request the Wash…$1.25 Dry…25¢ 180 S. 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