Minutes - Charter Commission - 08/15/2002 - Joint with CC

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Commissioner LaMere stated it is a matter of coincidence that there may be an overlap. There are not dates - it is a separate issue. We are talking about expanded duties - expanded workload. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that he did not feel his workload would be lightened if the City Administrator position were changed to that of City Manager. Councilmember Zimmerman felt that the system we have now is more acceptable to the residents. Commissioner Bertzyk stated that was her point with regard to population growth. You will have to put out more fires with more residents. Councihnember Zimmeiman stated he generally calls a department head and has them check it out and then they get back to him and he gets back to the resident. Commissioner Bertzyk inquired if that is how all five of the Councilmembers handle calls. Mayor Gamec stated that he gets on average 10 to 12 calls per week from citizens. He then contacts Mr. Norman to find out who to talk to about each issue. Chairperson Vogt inquired if there should be consistency with the way things are handled. That could cause problems with the dynamics of communication. Councihnember Kurak stated that citizens calling us as Councilmembers is very important. With the new ward system, there will be a liaison for every ward. She stated that she might be guilty of just talking to the people she needs to talk to. She felt the City Administrator did not need her to call him and ask who she should talk to when she already knows who could handle the issue. Lance Raygor, 6194 - 146th Avenue NW, Ramsey, stated that he spent over 30 years working for a State entity. There have been several comments about salaries and the fact that they should be public. He stated what is public is the range of salary. It would be his decision whether or not to give out his salary. He assumed that would be the same for the City Administrator - his salary range is what is public. This Commission could ask what is the salary range for City Administrators and what is the salary range for City Managers. He added that it sounds like the City Council is given a broader authority than what is actually in writing. As the City Administrator, it sounds like our City Administrator is already been given more latitude leaning toward some of the duties of City Manager. Council does not interview all 50 people for a job - you let department heads do that or the City Administrator and they bring it to you for final approval. It appears the only thing that would be changing is that the City Manager would be making the final decision. He suggested that Councilmembers do not have time to do all this. Staff are the ones who deal with things on a day to day basis. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that the Council has had staff narrow down the applications. Mr. Raygor stated he understands that the City Council should be involved in the hiring of upper management. Charter Commission/August 15, 2002 Page 8 of 10