September 30, 2019 Special City Council Meeting Minutes

APPROVED employee absences from work and Administration Office closure at 9:00 a.m. to honor Mayor Robert (Bob) W. Anderson at Funeral Mass, 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019

MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve Administration Office closure effective at 9:00 a.m. and retroactive employee paid absences from work to honor Mayor Robert (Bob) W. Anderson at the Funeral Mass and burial, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

APPROVED Resolution 61-19 appointing Mayor Pro Tem Droba to fill the vacancy of Mayor

City Administrator Anderson explained Mayor Anderson’s term expires December 31, 2020. There are two options to fill the vacancy of Mayor.

1. Advertise for candidates for a minimum of 14 days in the newspaper, local radio, City Website, and City social media sites seeking interested, eligible candidates to complete an application for consideration by the City Council. Eligible candidates for the office of Mayor must be 18 years or older, a citizen of the United States for three months, a resident of the State of Minnesota for at least 20 days, a resident of the City of International Falls, and must not have a felony sentence that has not expired or been discharged.
2. Direct Appointment by the City Council to fill the vacancy so a full council can make important and representative decisions on such projects as the implementation of the sales and use tax and specific projects to be funded by such proceeds, finalize the 2020 Budget and Levy, fill appointments to various boards and commissions formerly occupied by Mayor Anderson, complete the Municipal Consent process with MnDOT for the U. S. Highway 53 Reconstruction project, and continue the Falls International Airport Runway Reconstruction project.

Mayor Pro Tem Droba asked Councilors Ditsch, Krause and Buller if they were interested in filling the Mayor’s position. Councilors stated they were not interested in the position. Mayor Pro Tem Droba stated he is willing to fill the vacancy of Mayor. Mayor Pro Tem Droba stated there were several reasons he should be appointed to Mayor;

• The four-year Councilor At-Large term coincides with the term of the vacant Mayor’s term;
• appointment to the Mayor vacancy will open up the Councilor At-Large vacancy to all eligible voters in the City of International Falls and not limit the appointment of citizens to the vacancy from only one Ward;
• Mayor Bob Anderson deemed Harley M. Droba most qualified to serve as Mayor Pro Tem given his tenure on the City Council and his leadership positions on a number of boards and committees throughout the community.

Councilor Ditsch stated he supports Mayor Pro Tem Droba but asked the audience for comments.

Charity Trompeter-Oveson, 811 5^th St., stated she would like to see Councilor Droba appointed to Mayor.

Chrystal Clance, 2707 Crescent Dr., stated she would like to see Councilor Droba appointed to Mayor. He was trained by Mayor Anderson and has the knowledge to fulfill the position.

MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to appoint Councilor Droba to fill the vacancy of Mayor. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Motion passed 3-0-1 with Councilor Ditsch, Krause and Buller voting “yea,” and Mayor Pro Tem Droba abstaining.

ADOPTED Resolution No. 62-19 declaring a vacancy to the office Councilor At-Large effective September 30, 2019

MOTION by Councilor Krause adopting Resolution No. 62-19 declaring a vacancy for the office Councilor At-Large effective September 30, 2019 and advertising for candidates for the current term expiring December 31, 2020. Applications for interested candidates must be submitted to the Administration Office by noon on Friday October 11, 2019. Applications will be forwarded to the City Council on October 11, 2019. Interviews with prospective candidates will be conducted on October 14, 2019 at the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. A Special City Council meeting will be held October 15, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. to appoint the preferred candidate to the Councilor At-Large vacancy. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT 

Mayor Pro Tem Droba adjourned the meeting at 5:33 P.M.

(The Oath of Office was administered to Harley M. Droba to serve as Mayor with his family present.)