Minutes of the Work Session

Denali Borough Assembly

Anderson School

March 12, 2003

CALL TO ORDER Deputy Presiding Officer Gerald Pollock called the work session to order at 6:35 pm. as CASWELL was running a few minutes late.

ROLL CALL Assembly members present were: Jim Caswell, Gerald Pollock, Sid Michaels, Baxter Mercer, Bob Shelton, David Evans, Neal Laugman, and Teresa Hall. Assembly member Carol Shields was absent. Mayor Talerico was also in attendance.

Ordinance 01-11, Version C, an ordinance creating Title IV, Chapter 28 of the Denali Borough Code of Ordinances providing for evaluation and acquisition of economic development land by the Borough. This ordinance pertains to the implementation of HB 244.

HALL and MICHAELS spoke in favor of the Borough completing the NARS (Northern Access Reconnaissance Study) first.

CASWELL spoke in favor of the ordinance and remarked that he will remind the Assembly of their foolish decision to kill this ordinance in the future.

MERCER also spoke against the ordinance.

Discussion followed and LAUGMAN also spoke against the ordinance.

CASWELL spoke in favor of adopting this ordinance today.

Discussion followed.

LAUGMAN spoke against the innuendo of the State holding the Borough and its residents hostage if this ordinance is not adopted.

EVANS spoke in favor of voting on this ordinance today.

CASWELL resumed as Presiding Officer.

2.) Ordinance 02-12, Version B, an ordinance amending the procedure for filling a vacancy on the Borough Assembly.

MICHAELS spoke in favor of the ordinance and proposed changing the word “secret” to “identifiable” in the ordinance.

HALL questioned the definition of the word “identifiable”.

Discussion followed.

Due to time constraints the following items were not discussed:

1.) Ordinance 03-01, Version B, an ordinance amending the Denali Borough Code of Ordinances, Title II, Chapter 8, titled Assembly Procedures, pertaining to the Assembly agenda.

2.) Discussion regarding the TORA (Transfer of Responsibility Agreement) between the Denali Borough Assembly and Alaska Department of Transporation of the Northern Access Reconnaissance Study.

3.) Discussion regarding House Bill 244, which pertains to a grant of state lands to the Denali Borough for a railroad corridor and railroad development project.

4.) Discussion regarding the proposed resolution expressing the Borough’s commitment to proceed with the provisions of HB 244.

ADJOURNMENT CASWELL declared the work session adjourned at 6:59 pm.

ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: __________________

Date Approved: April 9, 2003