Agenda Packets - 2000/05/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council May 8, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 12 City Attorney Long stated employees are “at will” in the sense that there are employment contracts with City Managers that allow them to terminate employees without a cause, per se, by due process, however, there are procedural issues and typically some type of provision for severance upon dismissal, and in this sense, employment is considered “at will.” He indicated the State of Minnesota sets forth certain procedural rights due any employee, and a City Manager would have that same legal right, however, it would not be subject to the same “for cause” standard that is currently utilized for some City employees. Council Member Stigney stated he had requested information regarding the pros and cons of the two forms of government. He indicated he had heard many advantages, however, no disadvantages, and he would like to have these brought forward as well. He stated the residents of the City voted for the type of government they currently have, and before the Council elects to change that, the residents should be informed regarding what is being proposed, and why. He advised that the residents should be informed as to what is not working, and what could be improved by changing. He added that if the form of government is to be changed, that information must come forward to the residents in the form of an inquiry, rather than being submitted to the Charter Commission under Chapter 410.12 Subd. 5, because this represents that if the Charter Commission does not approve, the measure would simply go on the ballot as submitted. Council Member Stigney stated the City has a Charter, and the Charter Commission should review the form of government, and has examined Chapter 6. He indicated he is a member of the Charter Commission, and has served on that body for approximately 4 years, however, he has only recently heard of this push to change the City’s form of government. He indicated he has not heard any real basis for making a change. He pointed out that the population has not changed in the suburb of Mounds View, nor has their area, and it is very similar to the way it was when the Charter was established in the 1970’s. He stated he would like to see some very good reason for changing before the Charter is changed, because it is the constitution by which they work on their City. Council Member Marty stated in the discussion that has taken place, this has simply been presented as a proposal, and it would be submitted to the citizens for a vote. He indicated the current City government has been in place for a very long time, and it is what the citizens desired, however, the Council is attempting to be progressive, and find new means to streamline things, and make them work better. He suggested that previous Councils might not have thought of this possibility, or had considered it and simply did not act. He advised that the Council could not change the form of government, they could only raise the issue, and it would be up to the citizens to make the final decision. Council Member Stigney stated this matter be submitted to the Charter Commission as a proposed amendment by the Charter Commission, after their review, as the Charter Commission is the body which has worked in this area for quite some time. He stated the comments he has heard are all subjective in terms of whether or not this proposal would be better for the residents, and from what he has heard in the discussions thus far, it is not to the betterment of the residents, therefore, he had some hesitancy in this regard.