12/14/1994 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 14, 1994 Council Member Elliott said she has no problem since Ms. Sullivan is working within a frame that she has established. Council Member Kuether said that she would like to discuss the matter because she did not want the process "tainted". Mayor Reinert asked Council Member Kuether what would she suggest? He noted that the original plan was to hire an intern who would probably be in school. However, Ms. Sullivan and one other City resident responded to the ad. Both persons were very qualified to perform the work. He asked should a person in school without experience be hired when someone with experience and wonderful credentials applied for the position? Mayor Reinert said that he did not remember that it was stated that a facilitator who was a resident of Lino.Lakes would not be eligible for the position. Council Member Bergeson explained that he is not concerned that Ms. Sullivan would "taint" the issue. However, he felt that she could be perceived as already having a position because she lives in the City. Mayor Reinert said that he wanted 20/20 to be a "peoples program" and if it failed he would take the entire blame. However, if the program was successful, all of the City Council could take credit. Ms. Sullivan defined "facilitator". Council Member Bergeson felt that there is the possibility that someone in the community could say that since Ms. Sullivan lives in a new development, she would be pro -development. He suggested that City sewer services could be another issue. Since Ms. Sullivan lives in an area served by municipal services, she could be perceived as biased and believes that all of Lino Lakes should have such services. Mayor Reinert suggested that type of logic could also extend to a facilitator who lived in Duluth or Princeton and loved to hunt. That person could be against restricted hunting. Council Member Kuether asked how it could be proved that Ms. Sullivan is unbiased. Council Member Elliott asked how it could be proved that anyone is unbiased. Mrs. Scharpen who was in the audience explained that she had asked Mayor Reinert if Ms. Sullivan could be unbiased. Mayor Reinert said that he expected each Council Member to be unbiased and support issues that are good for the entire community, not just one area. Council Member Kuether felt that Ms. Sullivan is a professional and should not be discriminated against because she lives in the City. Mayor Reinert said he was open to any suggestion that would make the 20/20 project successful. Council Member Kuether said that she would suggest that the City hire a 1`)