2014-05-27 Regular Council agenda

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Mr. Crow stated that if this amendment passes his hope is that all of the citizens who are in attendance tonight will stay for the citizen’s participation segment and not only make their prepared comments, but let his colleagues know that you do not like the smell of what is going on and that this is really not a part of University City. He stated that this community’s reputation is vastly swinging from a City that is known for its openness, libertarianism and progressiveness, to a city that is in the newspaper for having a hostile work environment, going after its firefighters, inappropriate activity, and now these actions by Council. Mr. Crow stated that he really wants to make sure that his colleagues understand that when they put their loyalty to a member of Council or staff over their own principles of what is right, they are leading this City down the wrong path. Dr. Carr stated that she would like to echo Mr. Crow’s statement, because this type of action is unprecedented. She stated that Council needed to talk about these issues and if the majority does not agree, it is their right to vote against it. Instead what we’ve seen is a postponement and now a total removal, because several members of Council want this to go away. Dr. Carr stated that her colleagues know that citizens will get tired of coming to the meetings and Council’s intent is to make it as difficult for them as possible. She apologized to those in attendance and stated that she was sorry that this is the way the City’s government is now functioning. Dr. Carr stated that as Mr. Crow pointed out, Council has never had this kind of a situation where Council members in the majority have decided that they will not hear the minority voice. She encouraged her colleagues to vote against the resolutions if they did not agree with them, and not to remove them in such a way that no voices can be heard. Dr. Carr stated that it is ill-advised to run rough-shot over democracy and to take away the right of dissent and the right for her to stand up for her constituents. She stated that she had something extremely revealing about the uniforms that she would like to discuss and if she has to do it during the Council Comment segment of the agenda, she would. Therefore she also wanted to encourage members of the audience to stay for the entire meeting. Dr. Carr stated that this form of nondisclosure was tried once before with the “Gag Order”, and now they are going to make sure that we do not discuss these resolutions pertaining to the question of the City Manager’s behavior, his participation in the election; the work environment/diversity of City government, the reprimand of Mr. Kraft, and several resolutions that pose questions pertaining to the City’s firefighters. Mr. Crow asked for a roll call vote on the motion. Roll Call vote was: AYES: Mr. Jennings, Mr. Kraft, Mr. Glickert, Mr. Sharpe and Mayor Welsch. NAYS: Dr. Carr and Mr. Crow D. PROCLAMATIONS E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. May 8, 2014 Special Session minutes were moved for approval by Mr. Glickert, seconded by Mr. Sharpe and the motion carried unanimously. 2. May 12, 2014, Study Session, 2015 Public Works & Parks’ budget minutes were moved for approval by Mr. Sharpe, seconded by Mr. Jennings and the motion carried unanimously. 3. May 12, 2014, City Council Regular Session minutes were moved for approved by Mr. Jennings, seconded by Mr. Sharpe and the motion carried unanimously. F. APPOINTMENTS 1. Steve Selipsky was nominated for appointment to the Advisory Board/Washington University by Mayor Welsch, seconded by Mr. Glickert and the motion carried unanimously. 2. Caryn St.Clair was nominated for appointment to the Advisory Board/Washington University by Mr. Glickert, seconded by Dr. Carr and the motion carried unanimously. G. SWEARING IN 1. Karen Culton was sworn in to the Parks Commission in the City Clerk’s office 2. Michael Waxenberg was sworn in to the Civil Service commission in the City Clerk’s office.