02-03-2004 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 3, 2004 5 10. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Attorney Filla asked for a ten minute Closed Executive Session after the adjournment of the regular council meeting to discuss a proposed settlement on property complaints. 11. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: A. Fire Dept. Officer Selection The Acting Administrator reported that on December 2, 2003 the Council tabled a proposal by Fire Chief Malmquist, endorsed in concept by the Acting City Administrator, to modify the historic and current process of selecting Fire Department offices. The department internal election of officers (Chief, District Chiefs and Captains), and confirming appointments by the Council would be replaced by a process similar to that of the City regarding any other employee or supervisor—a recommendation to the Council by the City Administrator, and appointment by the Council in keeping with Section 200 of the City Code. Rather than serving for specified terms, all department officers would serve until discharged by the Council, again at the recommendation of the City Administrator, and in keeping with Section 200 of the City Code. The Council had tabled a motion to adopt the new selection process to allow time for the Fire Department staff to respond to the proposed selection procedure by an internal vote to amend the Department By-laws to that effect. Fire Chief Malmquist advised that the By-law amendment vote by Fire Department staff took place on January 20, 2004. With 18 staff voting (of over 25 total Officers and Firefighters active in the department), the outcome was 8-10 to not modify the By-laws in keeping with the proposed modification to the office selection procedure—departmental election of officers remains in the department By-laws. The Council again endorsed the new selection process to be consistent with the process similar to that of the city regarding any other employee or supervisor. Mayor Hunt stated he would be in favor of an interactive workshop with the department as long as it didn’t turn into a gripe session. Attorney Filla noted the City would have to do some massaging of the City code. The by-laws deal with many things besides the selection of Fire Chief. The by-laws are still a working document and by abandoning these laws, he had a concern as to what kind of impact this would be on a paid-on-call Fire Department. M/S/P Johnston/DeLapp – direct the staff to come back to the February 17th Council meeting with recommendation on how the Council would adopt the new selection process proposed by the Fire Chief while maintaining the general framework of the existing by- laws. (Motion passed 5-0). Council member Dunn asked that Chief Malmquist find the SOG’s the Fire Department Study Committee had worked on to be placed in a book form.