|
Perry is appointed to Caledonia City Council |
|
|
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
By a 3-1 vote, the Caledonia City Council approved the appointment of
Peggy Perry as councilmember for the remainder of the year. The action
was taken during a special council meeting at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday,
March 19.
Perry will fill the council spot vacated when former Councilman Paul
Fisch tendered his resignation Feb. 29. Fisch, who served as a
councilman for the past nine years, was re-elected to his third term on
the council in November, 2006.
Because Fisch’s term was less than half completed, the city had the
option to either appoint someone to fill out the rest of this year, or
operate with three councilmen and the mayor. A special election for the
remaining two years of the term will be held during the general
elections this November.
Four persons indicated that they would be willing to fill Fisch’s
position. They were Perry, Robert Burns (who served on the city council
for 14 years, four as a councilman and 10 as the city’s mayor), Joe
Rud, and Norman Snodgrass.
At the March 19 meeting, Mayor Mike Morey said he had some concerns
with Perry, because once the school year is completed, she and her
family spend most of the summer at a cabin near Hayward, Wis.
“I talked to Peggy and she said there’s really nothing keeping her in
Hayward. She would be able to attend our regular meetings and special
meetings when they are called,” Morey said.
“With all the hours required right now, because of committee meetings,
we do need someone who can be here and put in all the extra hours,”
Morey added.
City Administrator Bob Nelson told the council any or all of the four
persons could be nominated, or anyone else councilmembers felt would be
qualified to serve. Once nominations ceased, a vote would take place.
If the vote ended in a tie, the mayor could appoint anyone he wanted.
Councilman Randi Vick nominated Burns. Morey nominated Perry.
Councilman Gary Klug felt all four persons should be considered, and
nominated Rud and Snodgrass.
Perry received three votes and Burns received one.
A motion was then made by Moery and seconded by Klug to appoint Perry
to fill out the vacated council spot for the remainder of the year.
Morey, Klug, and Councilman Bob Standish voted in favor of the motion.
Vick voted against it.
Some history
A committee made up of Morey and Klug had been set up during the March
10 council meeting to review a list of persons who had expressed
interest in the council opening.
Originally, the committee was to report back to the full council at the
next regularly scheduled council meeting on March 24. But council
members felt it was important to have a full council in place before
the March 24 meeting, where proposed changes in city zoning ordinances
dealing with the CJC were to be reviewed at a public hearing.
“We need to move forward with this,” Morey said. “If we advertise for
the opening, it would delay this by at least three weeks. As long as we
are not required to advertise for the opening, I recommend we move
forward, and fill the position as soon as we can.”
Four openings this fall
There will be four openings on the city council this fall. The
four-year terms of councilmen Standish and Klug, the two-year term of
Mayor Morey, and a two-year term caused by Fisch’s departure will all
be on the ballot in November.
 |
