Minutes - 1999/03/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council March 22,1999 Regular Meeting Page 44 means to further track the telephone calls, and to add the accountability that Council Member Stigney is requesting. Mayor Coughlin suggested that in the interim, the Council might direct staff to provide the directive that barring an emergency situation, the telephones not be utilized for personal long distance calls. He pointed out that when the new phone system is installed, they could address this matter electronically. Council Member Stigney stated this was acceptable. He indicated out that there was really no reason to charge any telephone calls to the City, and require additional bookkeeping, but rather charge these telephone calls to a third party number. He noted that that many questions remained with regard to this matter. He stated there are many calls listed on the telephone bill, from many different States, and no one has accounted for these. He stated there is a problem, and whether or not it is significant, it is a policy issue. He stated that if the Council would like to handle this as Mayor Coughlin suggested, on an interim basis, that would be acceptable, however, he would like to revisit the matter when the new telephone system is installed. Mayor Coughlin stated he would agree to this. Council Member Stigney pointed out that since he has brought this matter forward, the long distance telephone calls have decreased approximately one third from the previous billings. He stated if this was the result of this discussion, they were headed in the right direction. City Administrator Whiting stated he certainly respect the right of the Council and the residents to hold the Crty accountable for the use of these services, however, he could not agree with the categorization that this was somehow irresponsible and unaccountable behavior. He stated they could do a better job, and he would not argue with this, however, this was not the same problem that occurred within the State Legislature a few years prior. He advised that the entire telephone bill was $68.82. City Administrator Whiting stated that in talking with Council Member Stigney for approximately an hour, with some of the discussion pertaining to this matter, he gained a better appreciation for his point of view. He indicated that the new telephone system would certainly help, however, he was not convinced that the decrease in telephone calls was related to the fact that these questions have come forward. Mayor Coughlin stated he learned in statistics class that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. City Administrator Whiting stated this was an issue that staff has discussed from time to time, and have changed their practice, as the situation warrants. He pointed out however, if the word needs to go out once again to employees to minimize, if not eliminate all long distance telephone calls, the means are available to accomplish this. Mayor Coughlin suggested that if Council Member Stigney has further questions regarding this • matter, in light of the discussions held at the Retreat, he allow City Administrator Whiting to deal with these directly. He indicated the item would be revisited, per his request, after the new telephone system is installed, if for no reason than to review whether or not the policy needs to be amended based upon the new technology.