02-07-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--February 7, 1994 1168 17. Mr. Ness criticized Mr. Risher's attendance record at the county's personnel overview and space and planning committee meetings during the past two years, and he said he cannot support this out-of-state travel request for that reason. MOTION, passed Mr. Ness moved and Mrs. Toussaint seconded to deny the travel request for Commissioner Steve Risher to Washington, D.C. on March 4-8, 1994. Discussion: Mrs. Toussaint said the commissioners' first responsibility is to attend county meetings, with state events being the next important and then, national events. She asked if this travel was included in the 1994 commission budget, and Mr. Risher said he did suggest including this in the travel budget last fall. According to County Auditor Michael Montplaisir, there is no breakdown of how the travel budget of $5,000 will be spent. Mr. Wieland said the only travel he has planned for this year would be one or two state-wide meetings in Bismarck at a cost of about $200. Mr. Eckert believes the county should pay the expenses if they had appointed Mr. Risher to a specific committee, which is not the case here. Mr. Risher said he does not submit an expense voucher for trips to Bismarck for legislative events. Last year, when he attended a national conference, he said he brought back a blueprint for a welfare reform plan, the workfare program, which may be a model for the rest of the nation. At the call for the question and upon roll call vote, the motion carried to deny the request, three members voting "Aye;" Mr. Wieland and Mr. Risher opposing. COMMISSION POLICY MANUAL AMENDED, Term limitations~ Section 4.10 In order to encourage more citizen involvement on commission-appointed boards, Mr. Wieland read a proposed policy on term limitations. He then suggested adding to the policy that an incumbent may serve longer than the term limit if he is the only candidate for the position. MOTION, passed Mr. Wieland moved and Mr. Ness seconded to amend Commission Policy Manual by adding Section 4.10, Term Limitations; and to include that the commission may consider appointing an incumbent regardless of the term limit if that is the only applicant for the position. Discussion: Mrs. Toussaint asked if this applies to commissioners serving on various boards, and Mr. Wieland said one exception may be the Social Services Board. Mr. Montplaisir said commission terms follow tenure of office. Mr. Eckert said the term limitation committee, as appointed by the chairman, never had a meeting. County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson said she drafted the policy and provided copies to committee members asking them to comment back to her, which they all did. Mr. Eckert said the commission doesn't limit the service of people hired to work for Cass County, and he cannot support this policy. Mr. Wieland said employee hiring and board appointments are not the same. Mr. Ness supports the policy in order to give more people a chance to serve on boards, and he thinks people will take a turn serving on a