Desert Messenger

July 17, 2013 Quartzsite Council updates By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear Quartzsite Town Council members met on Monday, June 24th for a joint work session with the advisory board members. The purpose of the training was for the 10 town boards (even though the majority of boards have "gone dark for the summer") and council receive Training on Open Meeting Law, Conflicts of lnterest, and Public Records. The training was provided by Town Attorneys Kelly Schwab & Patricia Ronan, instead of the League of Cities and Towns' attorneys who have provide the training in years past, as they have no conflict of interest. There was some confusion regarding whether the public can comment on an item on the agenda that is not open for public comment. However, according to A.R.S. § 38-431.01 Section H, which states, "A public body may make an open call to the public during a public meeting, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions, to allow individuals to address the public body on ANY issue within the jurisdiction of the public body." Clearly an item on the agenda IS within the council's jurisdiction. From "OPEN MEETING LAW 101 Arizona's Open Meeting Law in a Nutshell" Information compiled by: Liz Hill, Assistant Ombudsman – Public Access (Last revised August 2010) explains, "An open call to the public is an agenda item that allows the public to address the public body on topics of concern within the public body's jurisdiction, even though the topic is not specifically included on the agenda. Ariz. Att'y Gen. Op. I99-006." Another interesting thing happened at the Open Meeting Law Training. Quartzsite Town Council regular meetings are currently scheduled for the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 9 am. During the Open Meeting Law training, it was brought to the attention of the town attorneys that the next day's council agenda scheduled for 9 am meeting was not posted within the required 24hour notification. Schwab responded, "We'll check into that." After a short recess, Vice Mayor Mike Jewitt announced that the meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, June 25th at 1 pm. The 4-page Agenda for the 1 pm meeting was then posted on Operation Hero Comfort Silent Auction set for December 14th By Joanne Winer Quartzsite, AZ - Operation Hero Comfort will be holding their annual Silent Auction for the Troops on December 14 this year, and it will be held at the new Community Center in the Park instead of at Town Hall. The event will have all kinds of great items up for bid, along with refreshments, and door prizes. The new location of the event will give them more room to set up, and give more room for the people who come to see the items without being crowded. There will be donation cans set around if anyone can help with the postage for the packages that they send out twice a month to the troop units they have adopted that are currently in harm's way, and there will also be a table set up with Christmas cards to sign that will be put into the packages they will get in time for Christmas. Donations of items that can be auctioned off are very welcome--if you 3 www.DesertMessenger.com have anything that can be used for this event, please contact Anita Carlson at 928-927-4292, or one her cell at 763-639-9330. You can also drop off any items at the Quartzsite Senior Apartments office, Reader's Oasis Bookstore, or Quartzsite Business Chamber. Operation Hero Comfort is also looking for someone who likes to sew to help make Cool Collars for the troops. If we think it is hot here, just think about the fact that these troops are in weather that gets up to 140 degrees and they are all in full gear that weighs about 60 pounds!! These collars are filled with beads that swell up when wet and keep the troops a little cooler, and many more are needed as it is really getting hot over there. If you have some time, and can help make these collars, please get hold of Anita at the above numbers and she will get the supplies to you. the Town's website, however it didn't include the rest of the 92 pages of supporting documentation. After the Town Clerk was notified, the full 92-page Agenda was then posted on the Town's website… however, the new posting showed the date and time of the meeting as, "Tuesday, June 25th 9 am." Once again, the Town Clerk was notified and the 1 pm meeting which had been "rescheduled", which was then changed to read "Cancelled." A Special Meeting was then called for Wed. June 25th at 1pm. Wed. June 26. Finally, the Council ADOPTED a Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14, and proposed Expenditure Limitation, and put out to publish. 6-0 Council adjourned into Executive Session to the following: 1) regarding amendment to the Town Code regarding discipline of Town Court magistrates. 2) to consider the Town's position and instruct the Town Attorney regarding the dissolution of the drug control task force intergovernmental agreement among La Paz County, the Town of Parker, and the Town of Quartzsite. 3) to consider its position and instruct the Town Attorney regarding the Town's position regarding pending litigation in the matter of Desert Gardens Mobile Home and Classic Cars v. Town of Quartzsite. 4) regarding attorney-client privilege and the waiving of the attorney-client privilege. 5) to consider the Town's position and instruct its attorneys regarding the contract with the Chief of Police. SEE COUNCIL PAGE 12 JOHN'S MOBILE HANDYMAN SERVICE 27 Years Experience. 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