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Mounds View City Council April 22, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Huston questioned whether the people that are in the union were not offered interviews <br />because they are in the union. He then said there are a lot of veterans involved and asked how <br />the City is applying the veterans preference in this instance. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre stated that the issues specific to the role of the Administrator and Council’s <br />position on that has been stated and ratified by vote. He then asked whether Mr. Huston had <br />something to say that is not concerning his opinion of the work of the Administrator and noted it <br />would have been more appropriate to make these comments when Council heard this item on the <br />agenda. <br /> <br />Rich Matson of 8414 Groveland Road indicated he has been a resident of Mounds View since <br />1977 and usually watches meetings from home but finally came in person to speak because he is <br />totally disgusted with the way the City is running. He then said everything is going to court and <br />costing the residents money in attorney’s fees. The streets are falling apart and instead of <br />spending money on fixing them the City is hassling its employees and wasting money on <br />attorney’s fees. He further stated he intends to work on getting a grassroots effort together to <br />replace everyone. <br /> <br />Gary Kardell of 2516 Sherwood Road indicated he has been with the City for 26 years and has <br />been a resident for 30 years. He then said he does not like putting anyone down but there is a <br />definite morale issue with the employees and he would like to make things better for the <br />depressed employees. He then said he was asking for Council’s help on behalf of the younger <br />employees to straighten things out before the City loses all of its good employees. He further <br />stated residents may need to pay more taxes in order to provide proper health insurance to keep <br />the City’s employees happy. He also said there has been no communication and the lack of <br />communication breeds contempt. <br /> <br />Naja Werner of 2765 Sherwood Road asked how there could be effective City government if <br />there is this sort of attitude prevailing in the City. She then said she has never seen anything like <br />this and she has lived in the City for 48 years. <br /> <br />Tim Fredberg of New Brighton and the Public Works Department said he feels the morale and <br />atmosphere at City Hall has reached rock bottom. He then said that by supporting the <br />Administration by voting against the request of the City’s employees will make the problem <br />worse. <br /> <br />Mr. Fredberg commented that nobody ever contacted employees concerning the change in <br />insurance to the 80/20 split. He then told Council a change is needed and asked them to do <br />something about it. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre explained that the decisions of the Administration were known and supported by <br />Council. He then suggested that, since the Administrator works at the direction of Council more <br />of the blame should be placed on Council’s shoulders. He also suggested that the City should <br />look toward improving communication with its employees.