With Quorum On Vacation,
Council Meeting Cancelled
ONEONTA – For only the second time in memory, a Common Council meeting – the one scheduled for tonight – has been cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
Mayor Gary Herzig said four of the seven Council members are away on vacation at the same time – Dave Rissberger, Third Ward, Dana Levinson, Fifth Ward, Russ Southard, Sixth Ward and Joe Ficano, Eighth Ward. At least four member are needed for the quorum necessary to call a meeting to order.
There were no plans to reschedule the meeting, he said, but all Council committee meetings scheduled for next week will take place.
The mayor said he couldn’t recall the last time a Common Council meeting – they are scheduled the first and third Tuesday of each month – had to be cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
City Clerk Nancy Powell said one other had been canceled during the six years she has been in her position, but she could not recall the date of it.
August 20, 2013, four members were absent, so there was no quorum and therefore no meeting. However, the Mayor and four Council members met and heard reports and public comments, neither of which required action by Council. As there are 8 members of Common Council, five would need to be present to conduct business.