MINUTES OF HIGHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING
May 3, 2007
Members of the Highland District Council Board met at the
1. WEBPA Representative.
Greg Kleindl announced that the West End Business and Professional Association, which had been dormant for the last three or four years, is now meeting occasionally as a social organization, and that Dan Galles would serve as its representative to the Council under the bylaws. Because of other commitments that evening, Mr. Galles has appointed Greg as his designated alternate for this meeting. The Council Board discussed the situation, after which Mr. Kleindl was allowed to participate on WEBPA’s behalf as Dan Galles’ alternate.
2. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the
3. Community Organizer Report
Community Organizer Gayle Summers reported that the Spring clean-up was scheduled for Saturday, May 19. Board members were encouraged to sign up to work and bring other volunteers. The morning shift was pretty well staffed, so most of the current need was for the afternoon shift.
Gayle also reported that the Home Improvement Fair held at
Gayle also reported that the Council had three trees to plant on the
4. Election of Alternates
The Council considered the election of Alternates for 2007-2008. Four individuals indicated that they wished to be considered: Rick Hugley, Ryan Carlson, Jeff Gravagna, and Mike Wilson. Each addressed the Council for one minute. By vote of the Board members, Rick Hugley and Jeff Gravagna were elected as alternates for the coming year. As they had the same number of votes, a coin was flipped to determine ordering. Rick Hugley was designated first alternate, and Jeff Gravagna will serve as second alternate.
5. Election of Officers
The Council then proceeded to the election of officers. The Council first heard the report of Board member Ted Davis, who was appointed by President Peter Armstrong to serve as the Nominating Committee pursuant to the Council’s bylaws. Ted reported that Peter Armstrong and Bill Poulos wished to seek the office of President, Shawn Bartsh and Georgia Dietz wished to seek the office of Vice President, Bill Klein and Tim Puffer were willing to serve as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, for the coming year. Each of those names were deemed nominated for those positions.
President Peter Armstrong passed the gavel to Council Secretary Bill Klein, who asked whether there were any additional nominations from the floor. There being none, the Council voted twice for the office of President, reaching a tie vote each time. Following the second ballot the Council agreed to determine the matter by a coin flip, by which Bill Poulos was elected President.
Following the conclusion of the election of the President for the coming year, the Council considered the Vice President position. Shawn Bartsh offered to withdraw her nomination if Peter Armstrong wished to seek the position, but he declined. As there were no other nominations from the floor, the Council proceeded to a vote, which ended in a tie. The Council agreed to determine the matter by a coin flip, by which Georgia Dietz was elected Vice President.
There were no nominations from the floor for the positions of Secretary or Treasurer, and Bill Klein and Tim Puffer were elected to those positions by acclamation.
Following the conclusion of the elections new President Bill Poulos assumed the gavel and continued the meeting.
6. Community Forum
Mike Wilson, an at-large member of the Council during the prior two years who had not sought re-election, expressed concerns about the election his perception of divisiveness on the new council.
7. City Council Report
During intervals in the election process John Marshall, aide to Ward 3 City Councilmember Pat Harris for the past 5½ years, reported on several matters, including matters related to speeding on local streets and police responsiveness to citizen calls.
Board member Bill Klein, a co-chair of the City’s Ford Site Planning Task Force, provided a brief update of the Task Force’s progress to date, which included several meetings of the Task force beginning in February, a public meeting held on March 20, and a tour of the facility. He reminded the Council that Ford Motor Company owned the site and ultimately had the power to sell it to any buyer of its choosing. The City has a role because of the present zoning situation. The current industrial zoning of the site prohibits many uses that would enhance the value of the property, so any developer will likely ask the City to rezone the property. The Task Force’s role is to work with City staff and consultants retained by the City to evaluate potential redevelopment scenarios, narrowing these to from three to five by the end of June this year and ultimately to one by sometime in 2008 in connection with the City’s consideration of zoning changes.
Bill indicated that the public was welcome to attend and observe Task Force meetings, which are scheduled for
8. Committee Organization
Board members discussed Bylaw provisions related to standing committees. It was agreed that each Committee would establish a preliminary roster of Board members and alternates, who would select a temporary chair to serve until community members were appointed to the committee, after which the full membership of each committee would elect a chair from the Board members serving on the committee. The Council recessed for this purpose. Afterward the Council reconvened. It was noted that the temporary committee chairs were Bill Mahaffey – Transportation, Jenny Winkelman – Community Services, and Dave Pinto – Community Development. The Council would seek expressions of interest from community members who might wish to serve on committees. Each committee was to meet prior to the Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting set forth June 7 to consider potential community member appointees to serve on the committee.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
William D. Klein
Secretary