Meeting canceled after council fails to form a quorum

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Hillsboro City Council was canceled Monday evening after not enough voting members of council were in attendance to form a quorum. 

Council President Lee Koogler told the crowd of approximately 15 people that he was "aware that two council members would not be here tonight." However, it was a surprise when only three members showed up. 

In addition to Koogler, council members Rod Daniels, Peter Pence and Brian Waller were in attendance.  

Council members Bonnie Parr and Bill Alexander had previously stated they would be out of town during the June council meeting. Members David Shoemaker and Mary Brown Turner were not in attendance. Koogler said he was not aware why Shoemaker and Turner were not at the meeting, although, he told The Highland County Press, "This is very out of character for both of them."

"Each council member is aware that we meet the second Monday of every month," Koogler said. "Had I known that we would not have enough members for a quorum I would have rescheduled the meeting."

Koogler said he would call a special council meeting some time in the near future to take care of the city's business for the month of June. He expects to have the special meeting date scheduled by June 15.

After consulting with Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery, Koogler noted that since the meeting had been advertised to the public, he called the meeting to order as a committee meeting, and heard comments from area citizens.

Beery said that four members of council constitute a quorum. As Koogler is council president and not a voting member he could not be counted in addition to the three other members in attendance to form a quorum. 

Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink told The Highland County Press that in the decades he has participated in city government this is the first time he could remember not having enough members present for a meeting.