The Auburn Board of Public Works (BPW) Monday, March 11, discussed the letter sent to Doug Glenn requesting he cease his participation on the board. More than 45 days had passed since the expiration of his term.
Glenn received a letter from Angelo Ligouri, city attorney. Ligouri told the BPW there was no statutory language which supported the recommendation, but it was supported by the League of Nebraska Municipalities. There is no mandatory time, but 45 days was reasonable, Ligouri said.
The letter stated Glenn’s term on the BPW ended Monday, Jan. 14. Glenn continued because no successor was appointed at the Auburn City Council meeting that evening.
The holdover tenancy allows a short period to name a new representative, not to extend the position for an unidentified term, the city attorney said.
“The longer you extend the term, the more trouble you’re looking at. The service is not expected to last an indefinite period,” Ligouri said.
There was a concern if his term was extended further, there was a question whether his decision-making ability was limited, he told the BPW.
Statutory language pursuant to elections stated all vacancies shall be filled within 45 days after the vacancy occurred unless good cause was shown, the attorney explained in his letter.
Dick Hahn, BPW chair, said the board should not be involved in political issues, because the appointment was a City Council decision.
“Doug was a fantastic board member. The board appreciated his service over the years,” Hahn explained.
Jeff Jeanneret, Auburn City Council member, told the BPW no council member had anything to do with the letter sent to Glenn.
“We have a great number of eligible persons who could serve on the board. Doug was a good member and we hated to lose him,” said Mary Kruger, former City Council member.
“We want to have a great working relationship with the City Council. The mayor needs to submit a name the council will approve. We need to have someone with the love of Auburn and who will do what’s best for Auburn,” said Chuck Knipe, BPW member, who took office last month.
Kruger also requested a tentative BPW agenda be listed on the front page of the Nemaha County Herald, to allow the public to see what is happening at the monthly meetings. She said the Auburn City Council should do likewise, and she had attempted to do that for at least 20 years.
Kruger said she appreciated all the BPW does. Changing the monthly board meetings to nights would allow more people to serve on the board. Noon meetings limit those who can serve, Kruger said. However, she realized no one wants to give up another night.
Al Witte, BPW employee, said he was asked by his fellow employees to record the sessions, which was allowable under state statute. Witte said he would turn the recorder off when the board entered closed session.
Tom Gulizia, board member, said the board cannot stop recording the meetings unless it was a closed session.
Knipe said because the BPW meeting was an open meeting, he had no problems with recording the meetings.
Jeanneret, who attended the meeting as a ratepayer and Auburn City Council representative, said the board needed to do what was in its best interests.