Minutes of the Public Hearing
Denali Borough Assembly
Tri-Valley Community Center, Healy
December 21, 2001
CALL TO ORDER Presiding Officer Jerry Mueller called the Public Hearing to order at 6:35 pm.
ROLL CALL Assembly members present were: Sid Michaels, Jim
Caswell, Teresa Hall, Jerry Mueller, Jim Payne, Gerald Pollock, and Mayor
Gonzales. Absent were Teresa Usibelli,
David Talerico, and Carol Shields.
ORDINANCES 1.) An ordinance
amending the Borough Charter, Article VIII, Section 8.02, paragraph 3, concerning
School Board reapportionment.
Dennis Ferrell, Anderson Resident, asked what was going to
be on the ballot for the special election.
MUELLER explained the ballot measures.
Ferrell asked if the one man, one vote, at large option was going to be
on the ballot.
MICHAELS said each one of these items on the ballot could be
voted up or down individually. He
stated that each item has to stand on it’s own.
CASWELL stated that all of the options on the ballot follow
the one man, one vote rule.
Steve Ziegman, Healy resident, asked what the exact milepost
would be.
Eileen Armstrong, School Board member, stated that there is
a suggested amendment from the School Board to change the north boundry
milepost to 269.
John Winklmann, Healy resident, read AS 29.20.300 “…Members
of the School Board are elected at large unless a different method of election
has been approved by the voters in a regular election.” He asked if the people of the Borough have
ever voted on how the school board will be apportioned.
MICHAELS stated that it was voted on when the Charter was
voted in.
Winklman stated that in Ordinance 91-14 it stated that, “All
persons comprising the School Board of the Railbelt REAA existing immediately
before the Denali Borough assumes control of the Railbelt REAA shall continue
to be members of the School Board until new election are held and the new
School Board is sworn in. An election
will be held with School Board seats apportioned by districts following the
same apportionment set up for the Assembly.
All seats shall continue with the staggered terms of office of three (3)
years.” He asked again if the people
have ever voted it on.
MICHAELS stated that in the Charter it provides for School
Board composition.
David Braun, Healy Resident, stated that the Charter says
nothing about School Board composition.
MICHAELS said that he does not want to get into an
argument. He also stated that it does
say in the Charter the Assembly, by ordinance, will establish how the School
Board is to be apportioned. He stated
that the people voted on that when the Charter was approved.
Braun asked if the Charter takes precedence over State law
which says the members will be elected at large until the voters vote on a
change in a regular election.
MICHAELS said that you have to be careful when reading State
Statutes. He stated that some Statutes
do not apply to all Boroughs and Cities.
MUELLER said that he is asking for public comments on this
ordinance.
Braun said that the Assembly has given us a history
lesson. He asked if it is true that the
School Board for sometime was elected at large until this ordinance changed it
without a vote of the people. He stated
that if that is not true, he does not understand.
MUELLER stated that he is trying to get back to the agenda.
Eileen Armstrong, Healy resident, stated that it was at
large until the Borough was formed.
Braun stated that MICHAELS said himself that the Charter
does not specify the make up of the School Board.
Ferrell stated the boundary was
amended to match where the kids go to school.
ADJOURNMENT MUELLER
declared the regular meeting adjourned at 7:01 pm.
Date Approved:
____________________