08/26/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Coancil Minutes of 8/26/20(12 .„,, which is very important in that he does keep confidential what goes on in the office. The ~.. expenses of the Mayor's office have been reduced by approximately 7 1/2%, with $3,900 being removed from employee relations. Mrs. Kasier responded that, keeping in mind the difficult times that the city is facing and with the duties described in the job description, (which she believes significantly overlap with the duties of the administrative assistant) and more importantly, based on the recommendation of the directors that this position be considered in terms of a clerical position as opposed to a Secretary I or Secretary II position based on the duties that they witnessed and the job that they see, it continues to be her recommendation that this line item be reduced in order to provide money to better serve the safety issues facing the city. Councilman Gareau commented, in light of the Mayor's comments regarding the directors' recommendation, one of the things that he was most troubled by with respect to this particular issue is that he was under the impression that the recommendations and the brain-storming process would produce options to Council. He had hoped that Council would get all of the options, whether they were favored or disfavored. He inquired as to whether it was the consensus of the directors that this would not be a good recommendation. The answer to his query was that they still felt their original recommendation was sound. Mrs. Kasler noted that this issue had been discussed in the past and it was her understanding that the directors felt there should be some reduction in the Mayor's office with regard to the assistance that he receives. Councilman McKay expressed his view that it was strange that the directors singled out one secretary and not their own. He believes this person does fill in for the administrative assistant when she is not there, so he cannot say it is entirely a clerical position. Councilman Limpert expressed his disappointment that the amendments had not been presented earlier so that Council members could have had time to study them. At first glance, many of these amendments sound reasonable, but he does have concerns-one being why this position was singled out. Mrs. Kasler noted that Council was given last minute information and were asked to make some very significant decisions in a very short period of time. At this point, there was a general discussion of what constitutes a Secretary I or Secretary II position. It was noted that non-bargaining secretaries are paid 2 1/2% more than the bargaining unit secretaries. Mrs. Copfer noted that there are differem job duties for a Secretary I and a Secretary II, but some of the duties do overlap. Some of the duties of a Secretary II are more clerical in nature, and the Secretary 1 can supervise other secretaries. Law Director Dubelko noted that there is no job description in the Codified Ordinances for the Mayor's secretary and what is in the salary range ordinance must be relied upon. What Council does with respect to the appropriations ordinance is going to deal with the dollars that are left available for that position. The Mayor is going to have to take some action, whether it be administrative or legislative. He may have to come back to Council and propose a change in the position. Roll call on the motion made by Mrs. Kasler and seconded by Mr. Gareau to amend Ordinance No. 2002-117 by removing $5,100 from the Mayor's secretary line item: Kasler, yes; Gareau, yes; Limpert, no, commenting that he has been in the position of doing a good job and being presented by management with the situation of take the cut or quit. It is a pretty nasty situation to be in. He respects the fact that this is a great '~"' modification over what was earlier discussed, and he does appreciate that but his vote is 3 .._~,~,.,,.. n __. ,... ,.~. -,