HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.16.89 Special Council Minutes
MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL
AUGUST 16, 1989
1. Mayor Kuchera called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Members Present: Kuchera, Mayer, McKnight, Sprute, Galler.
Members Absent: None.
Also Present: Administrator Thompson.
2. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the City's Compensation Plan,
specifically, the General Services organizational chart. The Council considered
the memo from the Superintendent of General Services outlining the reorganization
which would, among other things, retitle the General Services Superintendent to
Public Works Superintendent, eliminate the Solid Waste Coordinator position, create
a solid waste foreman position, and eventually establish an Assistant Engineer
position to oversee engineering. Councilmember Mayer stated that he felt the
engineering duties should remain under public works, but did not feel the City
should necessarily have the Engineer as the department head. Superintendent
Kaldunski stated that it was important to have a professinal engineer as the
Department Head because of the expertise which came with the license. Councilmember
McKnight and Mayor Kuchera stated they liked the proposal if it did not exceed the
budget. Administrator Thompson noted that it was not necessary to hire a professional
engineer as an assistant engineer. Councilmember Mayer noted that the proposal
still left the City Engineer as a part time engineer, which he did not feel was
proper. Mr. Kaldunski stated that he would still be required to sign the plans and
specifications, but the assistant would free him up from menial engineering work.
Councilmember Mayer stated that with all of the upcoming projects, the City should
have a professional engineer working full time on them. Councilmember Sprute
stated that maybe the Council was focusing in the wrong area, and that it should
look at creating a separate department head for Solid Waste, since a professional
engineer did not lend any extra expertise to that area. Councilmember Sprute stated
the City could see a cost savings because the coordinator could be shifted into that
position. Councilmember Sprute added that, based on the existing chart, the
coordinator was technically a department head since he presently reported directly
to the Administrator. Administrator Thompson stated that the Coordinator reported
directly to him because it was created as a temporary position and that it was more
of a planning position. Mayor Kuchera stated that the solid waste function was
always under Public Works and, because of overlapping, should remain that way.
Councilmember Galler stated that he did not see any cost savings, because it was
already proposed to eliminate the Coordinator. Councilmember Sprute asked if the
City could legally abolish the position and terminate the employee. Administrator
Thompson stated that Attorney Grannis had stated at the last meeting that it could
be done. Councilmember Galler stated that the Council had expressed concern about
adding Department Heads during the last reorganization. Councilmember Sprute stated
that he could not see any advantage to adopting the proposed change. Administrator
Thompson stated that the Council should not only focus on the Engineer's time and
responsibility, but also the Assistant Superintendent of General Services and the
Administrator's time. Councilmember Mayer noted that his proposal would address the
concerns of those positions. Councilmember Sprute noted that the whole idea of
reviewing the compensation plan was for the Council to understand the program and
review how the City was functioning and to make adjustments where necessary.
Councilmember Sprute added that the Council should look at what was best for the
Minutes - 8/16/89 - Page 2
City and did not see how the proposal would gain any advantage, when his
proposal would eliminate the major function from the Superintendent's
responsibilities. MOTION by Galler, second by Kuchera to adopt the original
proposed organizational chart (gold chart) and that the City hire a Solid
Waste Foreman and eliminate the Coordinator's position upon hiring of the
foreman. VOTING FOR: McKnight, Kuchera. AGAINST: Mayer, Sprute, Galler.
MOTION FAILED.
3. Councilmember Sprute clarified his vote stating that he felt that the City
would not have the best organization that could be achieved, it would not lighten
the Engineer's work load, and that it was not right to just abolish the Coordinator's
position. Councilmember Galler clarified his vote stating that he agreed it may
be premature to abolish the Coordinator's position. MOTION by Galler, second
by McKnight to adopt the original proposed organizational chart and the City not
eliminate the Coordinator's position until the co-compost issue has been resolved,
but to head in the direction of hiring a solid waste foreman. Councilmember
Sprute stated that the motion still held the same intent, and he was still opposed.
VOTING FOR: McKnight, Kuchera, Galler. AGAINST: Sprute, Mayer. MOTION CARRIED.
4. It was the consensus that the Council meet again on August 30, 1989 at
7:00 P.M. to discuss the Compensation Plan.
5. MOTION by Sprute, second by Kuchera to adjourn at 9:10 P.M. APIF, MOTION
CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
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City Administrator
Approved
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