Steve Giorgi was reinstated as a member of the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority on Monday, more than a month after the city council stripped him of his roles in a legally questionable fashion.
The council voted 4-0 to rescind the Sept. 8 action that removed him from the EDA and planning and zoning committee. Councilor Alan Stanaway, who initiated the motion against Giorgi, was not present.
Mountain Iron councilors were advised by attorney Bryan Lindsay to revisit the EDA removal, citing the state statute that outlines a specific process to remove economic development board members.
In nullifying last month’s motion, which simultaneously covered both boards, the city may have paved the way for Giorgi to also return to his planning and zoning role. The longtime public servant and former executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) was chair of both commissions, and his ouster put in motion a series of resignations from the planning and zoning.
At the center of the conflict was what Giorgi described as holding Lindsay and City Administrator Craig Wainio accountable for a lack of follow through on issues raised by the boards. The three members who voted to remove him, Stanaway, Mayor Peggy Anderson and Councilor Julie Buria, cited his behavior toward city staff as the backdrop for their vote.
It was unclear as of Tuesday whether they would seek his removal through the state-established process.
Minnesota Statute 469.095, which governs EDA boards, requires the commissioner up for removal be given 10 days notice and a copy of the charges against them. Among the causes listed in the state law include inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office.
Giorgi was not provided notice prior to the Sept. 8 meeting and the agenda item caught some councilors off guard by its inclusion. Wanio initially did not answer Councilors Brad Gustafson and Ed Roskoski on who placed the agenda item, but later revealed it was Stanaway.
Mountain Iron’s ordinance covering city administration and establishing commissions appears less clear on the removal of members. Under the planning and zoning portion, the ordinance only covers the commission’s creation, powers and maps.
Additional documents governing the commission were not available on the city’s website, while the removal process for other commissions, departments and officials were covered in the ordinance.
Accessing the Mountain Iron City Council
Mountain Iron City Council meeting recordings are generally published on Mesabi Community Television’s website in the following days. Currently, the city’s revamped website does not have current meeting agendas or minutes accessible.
