HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Committee Minutes 02.18.1993POLICE COMMITTEE MEETING
FEBRUARY 18, 1993
FAP COMPLEX
6:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ron Marshall, Chairman
Albert Ehrlick
Mike Atkinson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Larry Herman
Lonnie Kellogg
Bill Brennan
Dan Lowell
John Rosenberg
A quorum of three (3) or more members being present the
following business was conducted;
Larry Herman spoke to the committee about the possibility
of converting out current City Court to a Municipal Court. A_
Municipal Court differs from our current City Court in the
following respects;
1. A Municipal Court is a court of record. All testimony
would be recorded.
2. A Municipal Court would eliminate appeals. The only
thing that could be appealed would be the sentence.
The City Attorney would only have to submit a written
brief to District Court. It would eliminate having
to retry trials in District Court. The Municipal Court
would keep all fines instead of having to forfeit
to District Court.
3. A Municipal Court can rule on zoning regulations,
Board of Adjustment decisions and matters of
constitutionality.
4. Judges in a Municipal Court have to be qualified attor-
neys living in the City of Laurel. Previous City
Court Judges who are not attorneys and that have had
two years experience would also qualify.
Mike Atkinson spoke in favor of conversion because his
department would no longer have to schedule overtime for off-
duty police officers. It would eliminate the time and expense
of having to appear in District Court for retrials It was
mentioned during the meeting that Missoula is the only other
city in Montana with such a court system.
Motion made by Lonnie Kellogg, seconded by Albert Ehrlick
that we hold off on any recommendations to the Council pending
further investigation. Motion carried.
Re 'jc?fully submitted,
Ron Marshall, Chairman