Minutes - 2002/12/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 9, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 14 Council Member Marty indicated he does not understand the sudden rush here and will vote in the affirmative in order to be able to ask for reconsideration at a later date. Assistant City Administrator Reed indicated that the City Attorney sat in on the process and guided the Commission to ensure that proper procedures were followed. City Attorney Riggs indicated he was at the meetings and indicated the Commission followed a similar process as it has for other officers. He then said that the Commission followed Chapter 419, the bylaws and a number of Attorney General opinions as well as case law were discussed. He further said that it appears to him that proper procedures were followed. City Administrator Miller indicated that Council Member Marty has been asking at nearly every meeting why Staff has not yet filled the police chief position and was told Staff would get to it after filling the other positions. She then said that regardless of who is on the Council, the Civil Service Commission puts forth the recommendation and the whole purpose is to eliminate the politics from the process so it should not matter who sits at the dais. She further commented that the Chair of the Committee took a roll call vote in support of the process and the vote was two to one supporting that the process was followed closely and that this was very professionally conducted and it should not matter that there has been a change on the City Council. • Council Member Thomas commented that the change has not happened and just because January is not here does not mean that there is not work to do. Mayor Sonterre said he thinks this is kind of funny because when he brought up the matter when a motion was made not to hire a golf course manager he had brought up that Council Member Marty was asking time and time again about the police chief position. He then said that he is sick to death of Council Member Marty and another soon to be sworn in individual trying to tell this Staff and this Council to take a month off and not do any work. He further commented that this Council has an obligation to finish the work begun months ago as many man and woman hours have been spent on the matters and will not set aside its work because "you" have an agenda and do not want to see these items carried out. Mayor Sonterre indicated that all Council Members took an oath to serve and will finish out their terms and will finish the work that was begun. Council Member Stigney indicated there is a Police Civil Service Commission to select candidates and the Commission followed state statutes. He also commented that, from viewing the tapes, it appears the process was followed completely and he supports what has taken place. Council Member Marty asked if all three members of the Police Civil Service Commission interviewed all of the candidates. • Assistant City Administrator Reed indicated that the option was available to them and one individual expressed interest, and one declined and the Chair sat in on all interviews. She then indicated that all members received all the information.