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Mounds View City Council May 12, 2003 <br />Regular Meeting Page 14 <br />• <br />MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Marty. To Waive the Reading and Approve Resolutions 6013 and <br />6014, Appointing Linda Meyer to a Vacancy in the Police Department and Appointing Kathy <br />Bednar to the Position of Police Senior Clerk Typist. <br />Council Member Stigney indicated he has asked at a previous Council meeting and discussed this <br />with the Attorney off the record whether the Police Civil Service Commission acted in <br />accordance with state statute. <br />City Attorney Riggs indicated that the purely legal answer is no. He then explained that there are <br />steps required by the statute and one of those is competitive examinations. He then indicated that <br />there are a number of other cities that do not entirely follow that process but that does not make it <br />right for the City to do. He further commented that the purely legal answer is that the City needs <br />to conduct competitive examinations for any appointment that happens. <br />City Attorney Riggs indicated that, based on Attorney General opinions, competitive <br />examinations are required. <br />Mayor Linke asked how a competitive examination would be possible with this City. <br />• City Attorney Riggs indicated the practical answer is that it does not work for a department of <br />this size and so the City would then need to have the position open for anyone to apply. He <br />further commented that the statute does not work for this department. <br />City Attorney Riggs commented that the reality is that the City should have had an examination <br />and roster done for a position that it did not know it was going to fill. He then said the level of <br />staff time to assist the Civil Service Commission would be astronomical and beyond the benefits <br />of doing that. <br />Mayor Linke indicated that, if the City had no Police Civil Service Commission, the City could <br />do hiring based on other positions within the City. <br />City Attorney Riggs agreed. <br />Council Member Stigney asked whether the policy states that the City will advertise and point <br />the positions. <br />Interim City Administrator Ericson indicated that the policy states that the City will fill from <br />within whenever practical. <br />City Attorney Riggs indicated there is no statutory requirement to post any position within the <br />City but said it is a good idea in most cases. <br />Council Member Stigney indicated the job should be posted somewhere. <br />