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Mounds View City Council March 28, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 8 H. Resolution 7760, Authorizing Layoff of Kenneth Roberts, Community 1 Development Director, and Issuance of Severance. 2 3 City Administrator Ericson stated it was with great sadness the Council was asked to consider the 4 layoff of Kenneth Roberts the City’s Community Development Director due to tight budget 5 constraints, the loss of LGA, and market value homestead credits. In addition, the City has 6 experienced a severe reduction in building activity, building permits, and license fees which has 7 led to reduced revenues and staffing needs. In order to reach a sustainable budget going into the 8 future, Staff recommended the Council layoff Mr. Roberts, effective March 28th and issue a 9 severance. He explained that in no way was the layoff a reflection of Mr. Roberts’ performance. 10 11 Mayor Flaherty indicated he spoke with Mr. Roberts today as this was a tremendously difficult 12 issue. He thanked Mr. Roberts for his professionalism and service to the community. 13 14 Gary Meehlhause, 7400 Parkview Drive, thanked the Council for the opportunity to speak this 15 evening. He commented he understood the budget concerns the Council was facing and 16 respected the Council for being fiscally responsible. However, he encouraged the Council to 17 look at the position from a strategic standpoint and consider how the City would be affected in 18 the future especially with potential opportunities with the neighboring TCAAP property 19 20 Mayor Flaherty explained the decision was not being made lightly. He noted the position was 21 not being eliminated but temporarily vacated. If in the future the City had a need for additional 22 Staff support in the Planning Department, the Council could hire for this position. 23 24 Resident, Brian Amundson of 3048 Woodale Drive, thanked Mr. Roberts for his work in the 25 community over the past two years. He also acknowledged the Council for making tough 26 decisions on behalf of the City, given the current state of the economy. Mr. Amundson 27 encouraged the Council to review the essential staffing structure of the City to assure that it was 28 properly staffed going into the future. 29 30 Council Member Stigney questioned if the City was part of the State unemployment program. 31 Finance Director Beer explained the City was not a contributing employer and therefore paid the 32 entire amount of the employment benefit. 33 34 Council Member Stigney asked the current liability per month for unemployment and questioned 35 the length of this liability. Finance Director Beer indicated the State/City was responsible for 26 36 weeks with a 13 week extension. The Federal government would assume the expense after those 37 39 weeks. The maximum amount of benefit paid to Mr. Roberts would be $585 per week. 38 39 Council Member Mueller noted Mr. Roberts would be dearly missed. 40 41 MOTION/SECOND: Flaherty/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 7760, 42 Authorizing Layoff of Kenneth Roberts, Community Development Director, and Issuance of 43 Severance. 44 45