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, had been 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 Moery 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 Morey 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 Mayor Mike Morey and Councilman Gary 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.
 |
