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Council may have overworked their administrator and created the problem themselves <br />and need to improve on that position. She said she would support Mary's reinstatement as <br />administrator. <br />Council member Siedow agreed with the vast majority that Mary has stated. He felt the <br />damage that has been done may not be repairable. He said Mary had trouble doing her <br />job because of the minefield laid out in front of her. The majority wasn't her <br />shortcomings, but the roadblocks put in front of her. He didn't think bringing her back as <br />an administrator was a smart thing to do. He would support her coming back in another <br />position with compliant wage. He noted that the comments made by Rose Armstrong at <br />some council meetings were unbelievable, and that Council member DeLapp was in her <br />corner, but was not the ring leader. <br />Mayor Hunt stated he needed to stick by his reasoning that the City needs a change and <br />stronger leadership. <br />Denise Schneider, 4276 Kindred Way, said she had contact with Mary Kueffner three <br />times on different subject matters... election, land use ... and twice she was friendly, but <br />once she wasn't very friendly and stressed, but was helpful and had a lot of information. <br />Council member Johnston stated the city administrator is not a city manger. We are <br />looking for someone to take direction from the Council and implement it as reliably as <br />possible with the resources available. If he looks at Mary's performance as city <br />administrator, she has 10 years consecutive with no employee lawsuits, 11 years without <br />an unsatisfactory performance review, and she has 11 years with raises that would be <br />consistent with that satisfactory performance. The Council was complimentary of the <br />audit report that described her last year in office. When Mr. Buckles' termination was <br />discussed, the human resource records were complete, accurate, and supportive. We have <br />a clear 10 year record of success and good performance. He opposes termination... city <br />employees out to be treated fairly. He has a concern the way it's been conducted. The city <br />could face a potential lawsuit from one-half million dollars to a million dollars. He didn't <br />think Mary was treated fairly. If there is a concern with employee performance, there are <br />ways to deal with this professionally and ethically. He supported Mary be brought back <br />as city administrator. <br />Mayor Hunt indicated the council has offered to work with Kueffner on finding a job <br />with the City, other than administrator. Mary said she will have to check on her options. <br />LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 6, 2003 13 <br />