Agenda Packets - 2003/05/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council May 12, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 14 1 MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Marty. To Waive the Reading and Approve Resolutions 6013 and 2 6014, Appointing Linda Meyer to a Vacancy in the Police Department and Appointing Kathy 3 Bednar to the Position of Police Senior Clerk Typist. 4 5 Council Member Stigney indicated he has asked at a previous Council meeting and discussed this 6 with the Attorney off the record whether the Police Civil Service Commission acted in 7 accordance with state statute. 8 9 City Attorney Riggs indicated that the purely legal answer is no. He then explained that there are 10 steps required by the statute and one of those is competitive examinations. He then indicated that 11 there are a number of other cities that do not entirely follow that process but that does not make it 12 right for the City to do. He further commented that the purely legal answer is that the City needs 13 to conduct competitive examinations for any appointment that happens. 14 15 City Attorney Riggs indicated that, based on Attorney General opinions, competitive 16 examinations are required. 17 18 Mayor Linke asked how a competitive examination would be possible with this City. 19 20 City Attorney Riggs indicated the practical answer is that it does not work for a department of 21 this size and so the City would then need to have the position open for anyone to apply. He 22 further commented that the statute does not work for this department. 23 24 City Attorney Riggs commented that the reality is that the City should have had an examination 25 and roster done for a position that it did not know it was going to fill. He then said the level of 26 staff time to assist the Civil Service Commission would be astronomical and beyond the benefits 27 of doing that. 28 29 Mayor Linke indicated that, if the City had no Police Civil Service Commission, the City could 30 do hiring based on other positions within the City. 31 32 City Attorney Riggs agreed. 33 34 Council Member Stigney asked whether the policy states that the City will advertise and point 35 the positions. 36 37 Interim City Administrator Ericson indicated that the policy states that the City will fill from 38 within whenever practical. 39 40 City Attorney Riggs indicated there is no statutory requirement to post any position within the 41 City but said it is a good idea in most cases. 42 43 Council Member Stigney indicated the job should be posted somewhere. 44 45