DRAFT – These minutes are not official until approved at the next regular Personnel Committee meeting.
City of Bigfork
Personnel Committee Regular Meeting December 2, 2009 4:45 p.m. City Council Chambers
Members Present: Lance Koppelmann, Roger Logdahl, John VanNyhuis, and Mike Stevens Members Absent: Joey Jacobson Also Present: Amy Pifher, Police Chief Jon Babcock, and City Clerk/Treasurer Mike McKinney
The Personnel Committee meeting was called to order at 4:53 p.m.
Approval of October 7, 2009 Minutes
Motion by VanNyhuis, seconded by Stevens, to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2009 Regular Personnel Committee meeting, motion carried unanimously (MCU).
Background and Drug Testing Results for the City Clerk/Treasurer position
Logdahl noted that there were no issues regarding the background check or drug screening for the incoming City Clerk/Treasurer.
No formal action was taken.
Police Chief Position – Insurance, Vacation, and School Liaison Contract
City Clerk/Treasurer McKinney presented various insurance quotes to the Committee. He noted that the quotes presented had a lower premium since they all had a higher deductible than the Police Chief’s current insurance plan.
City Clerk/Treasurer McKinney noted to the Committee that in his research on the issue of vacation time for the Police Chief that the Committee had forwarded a recommendation to the City Council in 2007 recommending that the Police Chief not receive vacation time. He noted that the City Council had never acted on the issue directly. He also noted that the Police Chief was granted vacation time when the Personnel Policy was updated in 2008 to grant vacation time to all full-time employees.
City Clerk/Treasurer McKinney informed the Committee that in his review of the School Liaison Officer contract, the School Liaison Officer was required to work an average of at least one hour per student day. He also noted that he spoke with a representative of School District 318, who informed him that when the hours funded by the School Liaison Officer are exhausted, the City would be required to pay for additional School Liaison Officer hours through their own funds.
No formal action was taken.
Review of Employee Time Cards/Logs for October and November
Logdahl stated that the hours worked by the Casual Maintenance Laborer should be limited as much as possible.
Motion by Stevens, seconded by VanNyhuis, to approve employee timecards for October and November, MCU.
Koppelmann was excused from the meeting.
City Clerk/Treasurer Hours
Logdahl noted that due to issues related to the budget, it would be best to restrict the City Clerk/Treasurer’s hours to 30 hours per week.
No formal action was taken.
Review of Allegations of Employee Misconduct (Closed Session)
No Closed Session was held on this item.
Performance Review of City Clerk/Treasurer (Closed Session)
No Closed Session was held on this item.
The Personnel Committee was in general agreement that the City Clerk/Treasurer was fulfilling the responsibilities of his position and that there were no performance related issues to note otherwise.
Other Business
The Personnel Committee discussed how to address the levy shortfall recently discovered in the 2009 budget. The primary topic of conversation was proposed changes to the Police Department for the 2010 budget year to address that shortfall, which included the question of whether the Police Department could be eliminated. Options discussed included not rehiring for the Police Officer position for 2010, sharing a police officer with surrounding communities, relying on the Itasca County Sheriff’s Department for police protection, contracting out police services, or restructuring the Police Department to have one employee instead of two. Stevens noted that the City should look at whether it needs police services. Logdahl noted that it was important to evaluate whether full-time benefits should remain available to what is essentially a part-time position.
Motion by Logdahl, seconded by VanNyhuis, to make a recommendation to the City Council that the City should move forward with elimination of the Police Department and evaluation of what police services are needed by the City, motion carried 2-1 with Stevens opposing.
Motion by Stevens, seconded by Logdahl, to adjourn, MCU. The meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m. The next regular Personnel Committee meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2010 at 4:45 p.m.
Michael McKinney City Clerk/Treasurer