07/13/1998 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING JULY 13, 1998 Andy asked Nick if he is a member of any community organization. Nick explained that normally he works 60 to 80 hours per week and spends most of his free time with his family. He said he helped form an economic development committee and worked with this organization for some time. He also worked with groups trying to improve the area lakes. He did not join either organization because he felt that his obligation was to his family. Kim asked Nick to talk about the situation that initiated the 1991 lawsuit. Nick noted that the lawsuit was filed by an Economic Development Committee member. The Economic Development Committee was originally organized by the son of the newspaper owner and initially was a good organization. However, the Committee became removed and the Council withdrew funding support. The Executive Director filed a' lawsuit and after that suit was settled, she left Virginia and went to work at another city and had a similar experience. Eventually another Economic Development Committee was formed in Virginia. Chris asked what happens when a Council is divided. Nick said that is a difficult situation for a city administrator. He sees the city administrator as a resource to help solve situations. He noted that the City Council is not suppose to talk among themselves after Council meetings but the city administrator can deal with all members and facilitate an agreement. John explained this Council has its disagreements but the disagreements are mostly friendly. Kim said that Council meetings are for taking care of business not disagreements. Kim asked Nick what his expectation was regarding direction from the Council. Nick said first, the City Council has to provide policies that he can work with to build community relationships. The Council also must have clear goals and priorities and a way to measure. these goals. These are things that the City Administrator does not do and he cannot achieve anything if nothing is clear. Kim asked Nick what he saw the city administrator position to be. Nick said the city administrator has to support the Council. He noted that one newspaper criticism in Virginia was that the city council endorsed everything the administrator wanted. His reaction to that criticism was that he did not bring ideas to the city council that he knew they would not endorse. Chris explained to Nick that Kim is the mayor, the Lino Lakes public representative and the Council likes it that way. He said the Council wants a "top notch" administrator who does the work and does not get in the limelight that belongs to the mayor. Nick said wonderful, in Virginia, the mayor is a figurehead. The Council President presides over the meetings and the administrator plays a more "up front" role. He said the mayor should be "out front" and if the administrator is in that position, government is not functioning. PAGE 3