Agenda Packets - 1999/09/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 23, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 33 Council Member Stigney stated they were duplicating exactly what they did with the former Assistant to the City Administrator, Cari Schmidt. He stated they were hiring someone with a Masters Degree who wanted to get their foot in the door, gain some experience, and then move on. He noted she was willing to take a pay cut in order to do so, however, within a very short time, she would be back to her present pay level, and would now have experience to move on. He stated, in his opinion, this is not the type of people they should be hiring into the City. He stated he opposed this particular candidate, in that he did not see any long-term benefit for the City. He reiterated he did not think this was the type of candidate to hire. Council Member Stigney stated he believed they should hire people pursuant to the employment policies, rather than waiving the policies every time they desired to hire a new applicant. He stated there were 30 applicants, and he felt that some of the applicants would be able to work within the City's original policies, in regard to vacation and sick leave. Council Member Stigney inquired if City Administrator Whiting was aware of his reservations regarding whether or not the position is necessary. He stated perhaps if the City Administrator Whiting would take more interest and time in handling the internal administration of the City, he would not think this position would really be required. He stated if it were required, he believed they should be looking at the staffing options of how to handle it. He explained that there is presently a secretary, and that position could be an elevated secretarial position that could handle the secretarial duties as well as assist the City Administrator with the administrative duties, and incorporate these into one individual. Council Member Stigney stated that if they were going to maintain the staffing of a secretary and an assistant, the assistant position should be handled on an intern basis. He explained that the intern would move one, however, would be very interested in learning, and would come in at a lower rate, and work very hard for it. He stated, in his view, the proposed candidate would come in at a high rate of salary, which would increase very shortly, and move on. He stated he did not support this item. Mayor Coughlin stated he thought it unfair to cast dispersions on the City Administrator in terms of what he does or does not do. He stated he worked with City Administrator Whiting very closely as the Mayor, and attended many of the same functions both within the City, and outside the boundaries of the City, and he thought these statements could be construed as damaging to his character. Council Member Stigney stated this was his opinion, and that City Administrator Whiting is aware of his opinion. He explained that he did not state City Administrator Whiting did not require anybody to assist him, and if in fact he does require an assistant, it should be someone who comes in to assist him. He stated to his knowledge there were City Administrators in the past who were able to effectively run the City without any assistance. He commented that now that they have all of the technology and the prices and fees are higher, they can not operate without an assistant. He stated he questioned this. Mayor Coughlin remarked that they used to run around in horse and buggies, too. He stated that things change. He explained the demands on city government, both from rules and regulations from above, and demands from the residents for further goods and services, continue to rise, and those demands have to be met. He stated, although Council Member Stigney's opinion is just, stating it in a public manner, as part of the official record of the City, he felt was inappropriate.