WEDNESDAY,
JUNE 3, 2009
REGULAR
MEETING
8:30
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 8:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Smith were present. No members were absent. Others present were Mayor O’Brien, Jeff Fix, Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF April 6, 2009, Regular Meeting. Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Smith abstaining, and Mrs. Hammond and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.
3. SCHEDULED MATTERS:
A. Review and discussion regarding evaluation process for employees of Council. Mr. Smith stated this question arose during the process of hiring the City Engineer. Mr. Smith stated Council now has two employees, the Finance Director and City Engineer. He stated the question was the manner of how the evaluation should be done, and should it be done by Council, by Committee, etc. Mr. Wisniewski stated he felt a process should be developed and perhaps we can get input from other communities who have already set up a process for the evaluation of employees of Council. Mayor O’Brien stated an evaluation is important because without it there is no track record of declining performance or anything. Mr. Smith stated he felt with employees of Council there is a contract and there is the opportunity to void out the contract. Mr. Hansley stated all employees of council are considered employees at will and there is a process for terminating them in either the Charter or the contract. He stated it would, however, be to Council’s advantage if they could fix a problem before it became a big problem even though, technically, these are employees at will and can be terminated for no documented reason. Mrs. Hammond stated the problem she saw was that Council does not see when there is a problem, unless it is something glaring, because they do not see the employees daily as the City Manager does. Mr. Hansley stated the question seemed to be who would be filling out the evaluation, would it be a Committee, the leadership of Council, or designated to the City Manager. Mr. Smith stated he agreed seven people should not try to evaluate one person. He stated his thought was that the President and Vice President are elected by Council already and perhaps they should do the evaluation. Mr. Wisniewski stated he felt the City Manager, who worked with the employees day in and day out, performs the same evaluation that he does for the rest of the staff. Mr. Smith stated that evaluation could then be presented to Council for any comments, affirmation, or whatever. Mr. Hansley stated there might also be some performance elements that Council would observe, such as the timeliness and accurateness of information provided, presentation skills, etc. that Council would evaluate. Mr. Wisniewski stated the City Manager could solicit this type of input from Council that he could incorporate into the evaluation. Mr. Wisniewski stated Council’s comments would not have to be incorporated into the evaluation unless a trend was apparent. Mr. Hansley stated he would be happy to provide Council with some sample evaluations showing the portions he would evaluation and the ones for Council’s comments. Mr. Smith stated he did not feel a Committee should make a decision for all of Council and Mr. Hansley stated this Committee could make a motion for the City Manager to develop a rating process that could be reviewed at the next Rules Committee and then forwarded to Council for adoption by motion. Mr. Wisniewski stated he felt that would be appropriate and Mrs. Hammond stated she agreed as well. Mr. Smith moved to request the City Manager to propose a rating process for employees of Council to be reviewed at the next Rules Committee meeting; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Smith voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
B. Review and discussion regarding scheduling interviews for Parks and Recreation Board vacancy. Mr. Smith stated the Committee had received applications from 16 citizens for the Parks and Recreation Board. Mr. Smith stated if the Committee concurred, they could interview five applicants. He stated he felt that any of the individuals could perform adequately on the Parks and Recreation Board; however, if they could agree on five to interview that would give them a start. After reviewing the applications, the Committee determined five candidates to be interviewed were Richard Fazzina, Aaron Dean, Carol Carter, Karl Hanf, and Fred Knorr. Mr. Smith stated it would be difficult to schedule the interviews for a regular Rules Committee meeting as the meeting follows Finance and we do not have a scheduled start time. He stated if the Committee concurred, a Special Rules Committee could be scheduled for the interviews. Mr. Smith suggested Monday, June 22nd, at 6:30 P.M., and Mr. Wisniewski and Mrs. Hammond both stated that date would work for them. Mr. Smith requested Mrs. Yartin contact the individuals and schedule the interviews for June 22, 2009. Mr. Wisniewski stated since this will be a special meeting, if Mrs. Yartin would include a recommendation to Council on the agenda, the recommended appointment could be on the next Council agenda. He stated if they wish to interview more candidates, then it can just be carried over to the next regular meeting. Mr. Smith stated he agreed and asked Mrs. Yartin to include a motion for a recommendation on the special meeting agenda.
C. Review and discussion regarding proposed revisions to the City Charter. Mr. Smith stated the next work session for Council is scheduled for July 7th. Mrs. Yartin stated she had provided all of Council with the legislation showing the recommendations of the last Charter Review Commission in August of 2000.
4. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Smith stated he had nothing to bring forward.
5. OTHER BUSINESS: Mrs. Hammond stated the utility rates were discussed in Service Committee and it was pointed out that all of the appointments on that Commission have expired. She stated her question would be if this Committee should consider interviewing candidates for that Commission. Mr. Wisniewski stated based on the fees review at Service he felt this did not have to be done right now. Mayor O’Brien stated he and Mrs. Yartin had discussed repealing the ordinance establishing that Commission. Mrs. Yartin stated when this Commission was initially seating it was created as a permanent Commission, not as an ad hoc Commission. Mr. Hansley stated he felt it made more sense to have this as an ad hoc Commission that was seated when it was needed. Mr. Wisniewski inquired if any of the appointments were still valid and Mrs. Hammond stated she is the Council Representative. Mayor O’Brien stated he felt the ordinance creating the Utility Fees Review Commission could be rescinded and Council could seat an ad hoc Commission as necessary. Mr. Smith stated he would request a draft ordinance rescinding the Utility Fees Review Commission for review at the next Rules Committee regular meeting.
6. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Wisniewski moved to adjourn; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Hammond voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Rules Committee adjourned at 9:10 P.M, June 3, 2009.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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