12-10-2007 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 7H Meeting Date: Dec 10, 2007 Type of Business: Council Business Administrator Review: ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Authorization to Reclassify the Assistant to the City Administrator Position to Assistance City Administrator Position Introduction: The City Council has twice met in executive session (Nov 5 & Nov 26) to review and evaluate the performance of an individual who is subject to its authority. The individual in question is Desaree Crane who is presently serving as the Assistant to the City Administrator. Background: Ms. Crane was hired by the City of Mounds View in March of 2002 as the administration department’s administrative assistant. Nine months later, both the City Administrator and the Assistant City Administrator resigned from their positions, and as a result, Ms. Crane and the Community Development Director assumed many of the duties and responsibilities of these vacated positions. Many of the additional responsibilities assumed by Ms. Crane became permanent when the City decided to forego hiring a replacement Assistant City Administrator. It was not until July of 2005 however that Ms. Crane’s position was reclassified as the Assistant to the City Administrator, a change that was intended to recognize that Ms. Crane’s duties were more than just that of an administrative assistant. It has become clear of late however that the responsibilities assumed by Ms. Crane would tend to be more reflective of an Assistant City Administrator or City Clerk position. The Laumeyer and Associates Compensation Study report confirmed this in writing: “Of the positions reviewed, the Assistant to the City Clerk/City Administrator designation is incorrectly classified. The nature and kind of work performed by the position is of a professional nature and is beyond the clerical/administrative support profile that is characteristic of an "Assistant to" position.” Ms. Crane coordinates all business licensing activities for the City, is the City’s sole certified elections director, manages human resources activities, coordinates the employee benefits programs, prepares staff reports, resolutions and ordinances, works closely with the Charter Commission and oversees the City’s records retention efforts. These are some of the duties one might find in an assistant city administrator’s job description. In addition, with the recent departure of former Administrator Ulrich, Ms. Crane has taken over supervisory functions for the cable department and the receptionist position.