The Wadena City Council will ask its city attorney for an investigation into possible conflicts of interest on the council and for a proposed policy and process for dealing with such issues.
The subject came to light shortly after the council began discussing the Burlington Northern Depot project at a Nov. 21 budget meeting.
Mayor Wayne Wolden brought up the issue to Councilwoman Kay Browne. He said he sees a conflict between her being on the city council as well as being a board member of Partners for a Healthy Wadena Region, which leases the depot from the city. She is also the project manager of the depot restoration project.
"Is it your intention to declare a conflict in this and not partake in the discussion?" he asked Browne.
"No," she said. "What I did was call an attorney and ask for a professional opinion on what I should do in this case. I was told and I believe I do not have a conflict."
ADVERTISEMENT
Wolden said Partners for a Healthy Wadena Region has made a contract with the city of Wadena for a piece of the parking lot in which the council was talking about.
"Whether it's a direct conflict of interest or indirect, I believe your holding of that office and that position is an unfair advantage," Wolden said. "As a council member, you should not be partaking in that discussion."
Browne said there is no direct or personal financial gain and no personal interest in the project.
"It is for public good," she said. "This project is for the public. The interest that Partners has for this project or that I have for this project is for public good."
Wolden thought there was an incompatibility of offices.
Councilwoman Jeanette Baymler said that Browne was only one person so she couldn't influence the vote.
Councilman Pete Phillips said the council wasn't meeting to talk about conflicts of interest but rather the budget. He thought the council should talk about conflicts of interest at another time.
Wolden said he didn't agree with Browne's assessment of the conflict of interest.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I believe there is a conflict, even though it's not financial," he said.
He wanted the opinion of the city attorney.
City Administrator Brad Swenson said that City Attorney Jeff Pederson wanted the council as a group to ask him for an opinion rather than one member of the council.
Wolden advised the council that an opinion will cost money.
"I'm hearing on the street that the people would like to know if there is a conflict of interest," Phillips said.
Baymler said she has had more comments on the depot parking lot than she has had in years on any issue. The consensus is that people don't want to pay so much money for the depot parking lot.
Wolden also thought the city should have a policy and process on how to address conflicts of interest on the council. For example, he said the League of Minnesota Cities recommends that a person leaves the bench and also the room when a council discusses a topic with which the person has a conflict of interest.
Phillips said he would be in favor of having the city attorney looking into possible conflicts of interest for all the council as well as looking into a policy. He wanted to make sure each person was looked at for possible conflicts of interest, including Councilman Toby Pierce selling insurance.
ADVERTISEMENT
The rest of the council agreed and the motion carried unanimously.
