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BY CAROL ARNETT
Should Florissant City Council members sit in on city board and commission meetings? That is the question the council wrestled with at their executive session before last week’s council meeting.

Council President Tom Schneider raised several objections to council members attending the meetings. It could make board and commission members inhibited, he said, and the council member may influence the commission members, even without trying. Also, he noted that it was a challenge to get commission members and he wanted to make sure they were comfortable.

Councilwoman Karen McKay, who has attended some commission meetings, said she did not influence the commission members and noted that city staff also attend. “City staff are there telling them what to do,” she said.

Councilman Keith English said he had no problem with council member attending, as long as they were clear that they were not speaking for the council or on the council’s behalf. English noted that he had attended a commission meeting after he had become a councilman. “I was on the commission and worked on a project and I wanted to see what happened with it,” he said.

“I want their advice unhindered,” Schneider said of commission members. “I want them to be independent.”

“I agree with Mr. Schneider 100%,” said Councilman John Grib. “I think you’re going to lose the commission members opinions when any of use show up,” he said. “When a council person comes into a meeting, it changed the tenor of the meeting.”

“I think if we go,” Grib continued, “we shouldn’t say a word.”

City Attorney John Hessel said there was no legal impediment to a council member attending the commission meetings, as long as the council member does not attempt to speak for the council or influence the commission.

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