Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Procedures And Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Caledonia board approves attendance rule change, directs staff on animal ordinance and advances contract review
Summary
Trustees amended the participation/attendance policy to limit consecutive remote meetings without written good cause, directed staff to pursue community engagement and draft a large-animal ordinance, and advanced contract language for further review of livestock/exotic animal impounds.
The Caledonia village board adopted an amendment to its attendance and participation policy, directed staff to pursue community engagement on recurring large-animal issues, and moved a contract forward for fuller review.
On the participation policy, trustees debated language allowing the village president sole discretion to permit remote participation. After discussion the board removed the sole-discretion clause and approved an amendment that generally prohibits members from using remote participation methods for two or more consecutive meetings unless the member demonstrates written good cause or a federal, state, or local emergency is declared. One trustee summarized the revised language at the meeting: the section will read that "no member shall utilize... for two or more meetings consecutively unless either... the member demonstrates in writing good cause or... the state of an emergency has been proclaimed." The board then voted, and members responded "aye."
Separately, staff reported concerns about a deteriorated village records building that may contain mold and probable asbestos and recommended an environmental or hazardous assessment before handling or disposing of stored materials. Staff asked for authority to evaluate the building and the records; a motion was proposed to direct staff to perform that analysis.
Trustees also discussed recurring large-animal and livestock complaints and agreed to direct staff to conduct community engagement, identify local experts and interested residents, and draft a proposed ordinance to address large-animal management. Staff said the humane society had suggested more in-house solutions and that staff would work with trustees and community members on a draft.
On contracts, a trustee raised contract language (section 6.3) addressing livestock and exotic-animal impounds, noted situations where WHS may be unable to house animals, and moved to advance the contract for fuller review; a second was recorded. The board did not finalize contract approvals at the meeting; the motion was to send the contract to committee/subcommittee review and to return with recommended edits.
The board asked staff to continue the comprehensive-plan public-participation work and to coordinate next steps on ordinance drafting and environmental assessment authority as needed.
