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Page 24 February 20, 2013 www.DesertMessenger.com Quartzsite Events Online: www.VisitQuartzsite.com Willow Creek Traders NOW Featur ing Read MESSENGER Desert ONLINE @ www.MyQuartzsite.com Zumba Jan is Back! Come join the fun! Ritter Hats custom made by Herb Buy Sell Trade Quality Used BOOKS! Antiques & Collectibles Glass Trade BEADS Leather Goods Handmade Knives Quartzsite Marketplace 50 E. Kuehn #22 Next to Bad Boys Cafe 208-431-0111 Fitness for Seniors and De-conditioned Jan, & Eileen, are back to make your experience fun and rewarding! Gain balance, strength, lose weight and meet lots of new people. CLASSES run through March Monday & Wednesday 9 a.m. & 4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. All CLASSES held at new Community Center - Quail Trail and Chandler $3 DROP IN FEE ANYTIME Contact Zumba Jan with questions: 515-418-0442 Quartzsite Radio KBUX 94.3 FM http://kbuxradio.com ��� Quartzsite���s Favorite ���CLASSIC HITS��� ��� Local Information ��� Weather ��� 24 Hours Day / 7 Days Week! 928-927-5111 First locally-owned and operated music station in Quartzsite, Arizona. Proudly serving the communities of Quartzsite, Bouse, Brenda, Rainbow Acres, La Paz Valley and beyond, since 1988. What up with P & Z? by Shanana Rain Golden-Bear The Quartzsite Planning and Zoning (P & Z) Commission held a meeting Dec. 18th to ���review citizens��� entry of Volunteer statements���. During the meeting, interested parties were interviewed by the board members. Interim Town Manager Laura Bruno then presented a paper Ballot Form, asking members to anonymously recommend three from the list of seven names presented. According to information presented, three board members��� terms had expired. (After more investigation, it was later determined that was not true.) Bruno insisted the voting take place, even though ���recommending��� or ���voting��� was not on the agenda, and some board members objected. Votes were tallied and Bruno announced the results publicly. Shortly thereafter, one board member approached Town administration asking to enter into an executive session to discuss with the Town Attorney the possible Open Meeting Law violation which may have occurred. That request was denied. In a confusing Jan. 22th Town Council meeting, Mark Orgeron said they should just ���terminate��� all P & Z board members, and ���start all over��� due to the con���icting expiration dates. Town staff hastily made phone calls to cancel that afternoon���s P & Z previously scheduled work session. In the confusion, some board members believed they had been terminated. Even some people attending the council meeting mistakenly thought the council voted to terminate the board. Council learned during a Special Meeting on Jan. 28th, they would have to rewrite the P & Z resolution before they could terminate the members. At another Special Meeting on Feb. 4th, Council approved Ordinance No. 132, repealing Ordinance No. 90-16, in its entirety and adopting new requirements for the creation of a Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town and the appointment, membership and duties of the commission and its members; providing for repeal of con���icting ordinances; and providing for severability. Ordinances become effective 30 days following approval. During Feb. 13th Town Hall meeting, many questions were raised regarding P & Z. Two board members were accused of doing ���background checks��� on potential volunteers. Bruno stated they ���do not condone that.��� One P & Z board member was allowed to speak from the audience, while another was not. Statements were made that the board had not been ������red���, but one member argued he felt he ���had been slapped in the face���. Then on Feb. 15th, ���ve of the seven P & Z board members met to ���discuss and recast advisory ballot for P & Z recommendations to the Town Council for appointment consideration to the P & Z Commission.��� The ballot was exactly the same presented to the board on Dec. 18th. During Friday���s meeting, a letter was read stating Kathryn Marquoit, State Assistant Ombudsman for Public Access, had contacted Bruno regarding an Open Meeting Law violation during the Dec. 18th meeting. The letter stated, ���After reviewing the meeting in its entirety, Ms. Marquoit advised that the anonymous ballot for recommendations was a violation, stating they should correct the violation as soon as possible.��� After a P & Z member asked whether or not they had actually been terminated, Bruno responded they could not discuss that, as it was not on the agenda. He walked out, leaving four board members present. Bruno explained the board needed to ���cure��� the violation. When board members objected to voting on incorrect information, the vice-chair walked out. Bruno stated the three remaining board members could still vote. However without a quorum present, the meeting was adjourned and no vote was taken. The Open Meeting Law violation not ���cured.��� CUSTOM MADE PET ACCESSORIES The Pet Patio ~ Ray & Verna Maurer EASY TO FIND! Tyson Wells Space 29 Full line of nylon products and comfort harnesses, fleece coats, dog boots, doggles, etc. 661-428-3499 or 206-890-1696