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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-04-83 CCMSPECIAL LAKE ELMO COUNCIL MEETING, JUNE 4, 1983 Mayor Eder called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. The following Councillors were present: Dunn, Fraser, Mazzara, and Morgan. City Administrator Whittaker was also present. ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR - Mayor Eder explained that the Special Meeting was called to consider the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to hire Pat Klaers as the Assistant City Administrator. Whittaker distributed his Memo dated June 3, 1983, on his recommendations for the position and his desire to leave the position of City Administrator before July 1, 1984. The Council reviewed it. M/S/P Fraser/Mazzara, to make Whittaker's memo the second item on the Agenda. Carried 5-0. Fraser - Presented the recommendation of the Personnel Committee. Asked that compensation for the Assistant be considered after considering Whittaker's Memo. Expressed her opinion that the recommendation for the Assistant was arrived at after a good, sound, thorough process that the entire Council had participated in, which helped the Committee arrive at consensus and unanimity. MIS/ Fraser/Mazzara, that the Council accept the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to hire Pat Klaers as the Assistant City Administrator. Each Council member, then, spoke to the motion. t Morgan - Berg (Ron Berg) was his first choice. He felt Berg had superior experience, that his age was an advantage, and that Pat might be a little too ambitious. Lake Elmo might just be another chapter in Pat's career. Berg acted as though he would stay here as long as he was needed and welcome. Berg might look at Lake Elmo as a place to grow. Eder - Thought we might look at the positive aspects of Pat's ambition. He would have to do a good job to have a record to present to next employer. Pat is more assertive, which might help him deal better with the public. He appears to be firm, fair, and capable. No one is going to walk over him. Thought Pat's experience related more to this position - especially in budgeting. Pat was definitely his number one choice, Berg very much number two. Dunn - When the Personnel Committee met, Berg and Klaers were top two candidates. Since then, I talked with Dave Morgan, who was strong on Berg. So I thought it would be good to check Berg's references. Talked to his former boss in St. Anthony and the Mayor of St. Anthony and a member of the Cable Board who had worked with Berg. They gave good references. Said Berg was reserved but thorough. The City Manager and Mayor said they would rehire him in a minute if the City had the funds. I did not check Klaer's references. Mazzara - After meeting both candidates, had no strong preference for either of the two. Inclined to go along with the recommendation of the Committee. SPECIAL LAKE ELMO COUNCIL MEETING, JUNE 4, 1983 -2- Whittaker - Klaer's references bore out the Committee's impressions. So did those he checked on Berg. Morgan and Dunn - Still lean towards Berg. Dunn said there is more to Berg than the Committee saw. Morgan indicated he would support Klaers to achieve consensus. Fraser - Both candidates indicated they would probably stay 4-5 years. Berg said maybe he would stay longer. Felt Pat's preparation for the interview was an indication that he would be good in the job. Job requires preparation and a willingness to work. Both Administrators who helped interview indicated a preference for Klaers as well. If we do not hire Klaers, believes the whole process should begin anew. Dunn - Will vote to make it unanimous. Eder - expresses concern that Council had not used the process set up for hiring an Assistant as it should have. Felt there should not be further debate and review after Personnel Committee made its recommendation. If there had been disagreement on the Committee, the recommendation should have been deferred until it was resolved. He also said the Council's actions had been questioned by representatives of other Cities at the AMM meeting. This might make it difficult for City to find applicants for future openings. Also felt that everyone on the Council should be aware of the Open Meeting Law; so '.. he had asked Administrator to distribute information on it. He felt there should be no discussions outside of Council meetings which lead to decisions at meetings. Morgan - agreed and expressed his concern that all Council members had not adequately participated in the decision making process in recent years. VOTE: 5 Ayes - 0 Nays. Council approved the appointment of Patrick D. Klaers as Assistant City Administrator. ADMINISTRATOR'S MEMO: Fraser - Her support for the Administrator had not eroded. Seen Administrator as very good, competent, and performed admirably under very difficult conditions since the first of the year. Administrator has her full support and should be encouraged to stay until July ], 1984, as originally proposed. Eder - Doe- not want to accept AdminiGtratnr's nronnsal. Administrator iG doinrf a good -iob. taking a lot of hea.t. handled it well, W^»7d like rim to stay on the full yeas_. Indicated that he had some strong feelings about the relationships between the Council and the Administrator when he came back to the office. of Mayor. Those concerns have been taken care of and he is very comfortable with the new relationships. Believes we have to show the public continuity. Believes Council can have disagreements about issues but continue to work together. Dunn - Blame Larry for the problems with the C&NW rezoning. Have to be responsible to the people. Larry got involved in the issue and should not have. Like to give Larry 60 days notice when Klaers arrives. SPECIAL LAKE ELMO COUNCIL MEETING, JUNE 4, 1983 -3- Eder - Do not know when Larry took a stand on the issue. Council discussed Whittaker's disagreement over handling of the public notice question with Mr. Dunn. Fraser - Larry could not have anticipated Mr. Moosbrugger's questions and asking a person to be prepared for a question that has not yet been asked is asking the impossible, Eder - If Moosbrugger had really wanted a response that night he could have put his exact question to Larry or the City Attorney before the meeting. Fraser - Listened to tape of the meeting and confirmed that. Larry had not responded to Dunn's questions at the meeting, as Larry indicated in his letter to Bruce. Morgan - Did not see a problem with Mr. Whittaker that indicates he should leave. Mazzara - Hate to see this action. If there were any other evidence of problems•, there might be reason to discuss this. Thinks these problems should be worked out through face to face confrontation. M/S Eder/Mazzara to continue} with the transition as orig;,nal.ly proposed. Mazzara - How long would it take to,fully train a new manager: Whittaker indicated that Klaers is probably prepared to do the job now and that he could fill him in on Lake Elmo items within a month or so. Fraser - How does present Council/Administrator environment affect Whittaker and/or his successor. Whittaker explained that it was very difficult to work under these conditions. He explained that. he believed the Council needed to support the Administrator and the staff so that they could get the work of the City done. He said that support is not there now and the thought the City might function better with a new Administrator who .had no apparent conflicts with the Council. Whittaker also explained that actions besides those on the C&NW disturbed him. He cited the Sinclair subdivision, action*t" the *on kamendedstreet rehabilitation program, and water tower alarm; and noted that 6/21/ the Council should seek someone new to make recommendations on these 83 things if his advise will not be taken. Felt it was a waste of his time and City money if the Council did not value his advice. Fraser - The problem is not Whittaker's advice. It would be a problem for any person in the Administrator's job. Mazzara - appreciate that you have been open and honest on as many issues as you can and tried to keep personal feelings out of it. Dunn - You are capable, intelligent and perceptive; but, have probably outgrown Lake Elmo job, SPECIAL LAKE ELMO COUNCIL MEETING, JUNE 4, 1983 -4- Eder - real disappointed; but appreciate openness. There has been too mL,ch of a negative approach in Lake Elma. Would like to see positive approach. Need people like Whittaker to keep Council on an even keel. Have to work as a team and quit driving wedges between Council members. Council discussed how long it would take Whittaker to prepare new Administrator. Whittaker suggested a month would be sufficient. Motion by Eder withdrawn. Mazzara withdrew second. M/S/P Fraser/Mazzara to accept the recommendations in the City Administrator's June 3, 1983, Memo on the Terms of Employment, Pat Klaers; to provide that Larry Whittaker serve as the City Administrator until August 31, 1983, and that Pat Klaers become the City Administrator September 1, 1983, with Whittaker serving as a consuI.tant to Mr. *amendedKlaers at a maximum of -time until December 31, 1963; and that *half /21/83 approximate salary of Mr. Klaers be $28,600 effective January 1, 1984. Motion carried 5-0. STIPULATION ON C&NW LAWSUIT M/S/P Morgan/Mazzara to approve the stipulation to merge the lawsuits of the City and the complaining property owners as provided in Mr. Moosbrugger's stipulation. Carried 5-0. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.