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Commissioner Field referred to the League of Minnesota information and quoted that <br />there are 107 Home Rule Charter cities and 30 of them have adopted the <br />Council/Manager form of government. The other 77 cities are aMayor/Council. He <br />wondered why it weighed more toward the Mayor/Council. <br />Commissioner Anderson speculated size of the City to which Commissioner Field stated <br />that three of the cities are St. Paul, Duluth, and St. Cloud. <br />City Attorney Goodrich commented that the Commission has had a representative from <br />the League of Minnesota Cities visit their meeting -twice - to talk about Manager versus <br />Administrator and he wondered if the Commission would like the League invited back to <br />talk about this again. <br />Commissioner Cleveland felt that would be helpful. <br />Commissioner Niska stated that, in his view, it comes down to who is accountable. This <br />move kind of removes some of holding staff accountable. He realizes that City Council <br />can abuse their powers but they are accountable to the voters -it's harder to hold a <br />manager accountable. Maybe the City Manager does not have to be exactly the same <br />way it is defined in State Statutes. It would be called a City Manager but maybe not have <br />full hiring and firing duties. <br />Commissloner Cleveland stated that it sounds like the City Council would not have to <br />take this out to the voters if the Charter can make a recommendation to change the <br />powers of the City Manager. <br />Commissioner Niska understood that to be correct if the Charter Commission and the <br />City Council could come up with something that would be voted on unanimously. He <br />added that this is a pretty significant change and the voters should have a chance to vote <br />on this. <br />Commissioner Anderson stated that Council makes the policies and staff implements <br />them. <br />Mayor Ramsey suggested that there is a difference between removing a City Manager <br />and a City Administrator. The City Manager has more protection than a City <br />Administrator and the costs are astronomical. <br />Attorney Goodrich stated that most City Administrators have abut'-out provision so to <br />fire a City Administrator prior to their term expiration, there may be a three to six month <br />severance if they are terminated without cause. There is also the cost to hire a search <br />company and the length of time the City is without an Administrator. It is a long and <br />costly process; however, the process would be the same regardless if it's a City Manager <br />or a City Administrator. <br />Charter Commission -March 29, 2010 <br />Page 4 of 9 <br />