Agenda - Council - 06/09/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Further discussion: Councilmember Haas Steffen suggested that terminations and hiring of non-supervisory personnel should not have to be authorized by Council. Mayor Gamec suggested that a policy be written that would grant the Department Heads the authority to hire and terminate non-supervisory personnel. It was agreed that a policy should be written effective January, 1999. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec and Councilmember Beyer. Voting No: None. Case #2: Discuss Police Department Needs City Administrator Norman stated that Police Chief Gustafson has been working on ways to meet the needs of the Police Department. Last year, an application was submitted for Police Sergeant Jim Way to attend the FBI's twelve-week Training Academy. The Academy has approved the application and it is expected that Sergeant Way will be offered a slot sometime during 1999. Staff has been discussing ways to keep operations running smoothly in Sergeant Way's absence. A Corporal position was established on a temporary basis when the former Police Chief was on an extended medical leave. That position could be reinstated to assist during Sergeant Way's absence. The assignment would be in ~ddition to regular patrol duties and would be filled through a competitive process. The cost would be an additional $110 per month stipend ($1,320 per year), which is the same mount the Investigator receives per the labor contract. The Department has also had discussions about ways to increase involvement of citizen volunteers in community crime prevention activities. An effective program will require staff assistance in recruiting, training, and monitoring activities of the volunteers. If a Corporal position is established, responsibility for the volunteer unit could be assigned to it. Chief Gustafson has suggested that, if the City establishes a volunteer community crime prevention unit, it should include a maximum of ten volunteer "Public Safety Aides" of both genders, ranging in age fi.om late teens to seniors. Mr. Norman noted that the volunteers would receive formal training through Anoka County's "Reserve Training Academy" which takes place each fall at no charge to participants. After training, volunteers would receive uniforms and perform functions such as assisting with the Bike Road-co and Community Picnic, helping organize neighborhood watch groups, assisting regular officers in snowmobile patrolling, and monitoring businesses after hours and homes of people who are out of town. The cost for the uniforms would be approximately $1,000 per volunteer. If the unit is established in time to join the fall 1998 training class, uniforms would not be required until 1999, so the cost could be built into the budget. Total 1998 costs associated with creating a Corporal position and the volunteer Public Safety Aid positions would be about $1,000. That would provide for the monthly $110 stipend to the Corporal and the cost of postage and advertising for recruiting volunteers. Personnel Committee/May 26, 1998 Page 2 of 3