General Meeting Minutes 10-14-2004

General Meeting

October 14, 2004

7:00pm

Call to Order

Roll Call

Reading of Minutes

Public comment on Non-agenda Items

Public Comment on:

    1.    Clinic - Fawn Bauer

    2.    Budget

Unfinished Business:

    1.    Lawyer

    2.    Vista Volunteer

New Business:

    1.    Committee Formation

    2.    Resolutions

Council Comments & Questions

Adjournment

Call to Order at 7:00pm

Roll Call: Sandi Marchbanks, Kim Heacox, Becky King, Tim Gibson, Wayne Howell - Absent Martha Romero, Lou Cacioppo

Reading of Minutes: Minutes read & approved.

Public Comment on Non-agenda Items: Morgan DeBoer read from a statement his concerns about the Landfill's composting operation. He commented on the deterioration of the dump operation. He said that the smell was attracting bears and garbage birds. He commented on his feelings concerning the DEC report. He mentioned that his testimony about the Landfill was not included in the report. He complained about the noise. He quoted the first paragraph of the report and said he felt that his integrity was being questioned. He again quoted the report and called it absurd.

Sandi stopped Morgan after fifteen minutes and thanked him for his comments, but said we needed to move the meeting along. Wayne recommended that Morgan finish his statement. He was allowed five more minutes.

He went on to say that he was very disappointed that "they" were not consulted when the composting program was started. He asked that the Council reject & remove the composting program until the landfill was moved to a more secluded spot. He stated that we were the only City other than Juneau who had a dump within it's City limits. He then asked that it be forthrightly dealt with and said that he wanted to see the operation shut down by April of 2005.

Ken Klawunder announced that the Fish & Game council will meet in Hoonah this month and that someone will come to Gustavus to discuss tags around the 25th.

Public Comment on:   

    1.    Clinic - Fawn thanked the Council for giving her the opportunity to come. She said that the Clinic had just passed their tenth year in business. She said that the Clinic had always hoped to be self-supporting but it was becoming obvious that this would never happen. She mentioned the different ways the Clinic had obtained funding over the years. She said that for years the Clinic had been run by volunteers but that that was not an option anymore. She said that they were committed to not closing their doors. She asked that the City Council be open to helping the Clinic if opportunities arise to help keep the doors open. She said that the Clinic at this moment could keep functioning through next summer. At this time, she said, they can get plenty of money for things, but not for operating expenses, and this is what they needed.

    2.    Budget - Sandi explained that the budget would be available to the public, and that we would have a special meeting on the 21st to adopt it. Wayne & Sandi informed the Public that the clerk would be able to answer any questions anyone had about it.

Unfinished Business:

    1.    Lawyer - Sandi explained that she has talked with lawyers and mentioned some of the fees. Tim reiterated why we are looking into hiring a lawyer, and Wayne informed everyone that the money for a lawyer is already written into the budget.

    2.    Vista Volunteer - Sandi told everyone that we now have a vista volunteer and thanked Carol for volunteering.

Sandi talked about meeting with DOT & Alaska Airlines and explained our options. She went on to say that this should all be finalized by the end of the year.

New Business:

    1.    Committee Formation - Wayne explained the process for forming committees, and the roles of the different committees. He stated that committees will have to be formed by resolution, what the resolutions will need to entail, and why we are going to do it this way.

    2.    Resolutions - Wayne read resolution 2004-04, Road Committee. Tim motioned to accept the resolution. Motion passes 5/0.

Wayne then read resolution 2004-05, a resolution to improve Wilson/Rink Creek road. Becky motioned to accept the resolution. Motion passes 5/0.

Council Comments & Questions:

Wayne mentioned the idea for a newsletter and asked for community involvement.

Sandi mentioned that Ben has been working on the website and is trying to get information out to the public.

Tim said that he totally supported Morgan's concerns about the Landfill. He said he had also smelled the composting operation and indicated that this was an increasing problem. He went on to explain that we have many major hurdles to overcome as a new government.

Morgan thanked Tim for his comment.

Becky motioned to adjourn at 8:11pm