Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP July 25, 1978 . . ~ 01 ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - JULY 25, 1978 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jerry Windschitl on July 25, 1978, 7:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, for the purpose of interviewing applicants for appointment to the Park/ Recreation Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and for the Senior Public Works Person/Heavy Equipment Operator position. Councilpersons present: Lachinski, McClure, Orttel, Vanderlaan Councilpersons absent: None Also present: City Clerk, p. K. Lindquist Ap:enda Approval The Clerk testified that the interview for Edna Meyer for Park/Recreation Commission is scheduled for 9:40 p,m. because she just submitted her application this week. The Council allowed the interview because there was no cut-off date for submitting applications because of the varias means of communication, etc., used to advertise the vacancy. MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Lachinski, that the Agenda be approved ae written with the addition under Interviewe: 9:40 p.m., Edna Meyer (Park/Recreation Commission). Motion carried unanimously. Park/Recreation Commission Interview Thomas Curtis was asked a series of pre-determined questions alternately by Councilpersons. In addition, he was asked if there is anything in his background that would put him in conflict with the City of Andover business. While waiting for the next applicant to be interviewed, the Council discussed the following business: Grant Application for a tennis court in Langseth requested by the Park/Recreation Commission. Council agreed to make the application with the understanding that this is not a commitment on their part to supply additional funds at this point. Mayor Windschitl read a July 25, 1978, letter from TKDA approving plans and specifications for roads in Valley View Estates as Mr. Klenk, the developer, has agreed to raise the level of the road on l69th Lane NW based on a 100-year flood elevation, (See Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting of July 18, 1978, and a Continued City Council Meeting of July 20, 1978) MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Lachinski, that Thomas Curtis be appointed for Park/ Recreation Commission for a term expiring 12-31-78, Motion carried unanimously, Planninl!: and Zoninp: Commission Interview Mr. Allen Larson, scheduled for 7:45 p,m, interview, did not appear for the interview; therefore, he cannot be considered for the position. Senior Public Works Person Interviews The following persons were interviewed for the Senior Public Works position: Bruce Johnson Bobby Ponder Lloyd Reimann Ray Sowada John Terhell Special City Council Meeting July 25, 1978 - Minutes Page 2 (Senior Public Works Pe~n Interviews, Continued) Applicants were allowed to give a brief summary of their background and qualifications; afterwards the Councilmembers asked questions alternately relative to the applicant's supervisory experience; experiences in pUblic relations, scheduling and coordinating activities for himself and other employees, park maintenance, equipment operation, recordkeeping, and budgeting; willingness to join the Volunteer Fire Department; willingness and ability to service and maintain small engines; ability to obtain a tree inspection certificate; ability to attend Council meetings if requested; reasons for leaving his present position; salary expectations; if anything in his background would present a conflict of interest to the City of Andover; what he hopu to be doing five years from now; the licenses he holds; and when he would be able to begin the job. Bruce Johnson · Has 8 years experience in public works (two years in streets and 6 years in water and sewer). He holds a B License in sewers and has taken the test for water, which he did not pass, but he does work with water all the time. Has mowed parks. Works for the City of Coon Rapids. Operates any truck, tractor-trailer, front-end loader, etc. · Has made reports for water and sewer inspections.: Normally works in the Utilities Department unless they are shorthanded in either Streets or Parks. · Felt comfortable in working with a small department such as Andover. · Has had a lot of experience in dealing with the public -- cited experiences in his job relative to sanitary sewer clean-ups and public contact. · Felt he would be able to do scheduling and coordinating jobs. Was a Union Steward handling people for United Parcel Service as a leadman dealing with people according to how he was told to deal with them. Didn't feel he would have a problem preparing work schedules and would expect the jobs to be completed. · Has had no experience in purchasing, but felt he could learn. · Is interchangeable on his job and has been working in the Parks Department the past two weeks. Has mowed grass, flooded rinks, maintained rinks, and has plowed streets for Coon Rapids. · During slow periods, he felt he could be keeping equipment clean and has had a lot of experience repairing small equipment. He sells wood as a business and has his own chain saws, wedges, etc. The wood is taken off property he owns in Oak Grove. · Would not consider joining a full-time fire department, but would consider joining the Volunteer Fire Department. · Felt he could very easily obtain a tree inspection certificate. · Thought that the City of Andover will be growing, but didn't know exactly what condition the City's roads were in. He has not driven a road grader. · In his job, he is told what to do at 7 o'clock in the morning. After completing that job, he returns for another assignment. At present he fills out time cards -- cited; his job relative to cleaning lift stations and well houses in Coon Rapids. · Would definitely be willing to attend some Council meetings if requested. · Is able to do equipment maintenance and would have no problem working with the road maintenance contractor for the City to be sure jobs do not overlap. · Anticipated winter work to be plowing streets, flooding rinks several times a week, minor road repair, janitorial work within the building, trimming trees along the roads, etc. Special City Council Meeting July 25, 1978 - Minutes Page 3 (Bruce Johnson Interview, Continued) * Is interested in this position because it is a new position with an opportunity to be on his own rather than being supervised, more prestige, more money, closer to home, and he would like to grow with the City. * Realizing the City is on a fixed budget, he would like a starting salary of more than he is presently making, possibly between S15,000 to S16,000 a year. Stated he wouldn't ask for a raise if he wasn't doing the job. * Didn't think there would be anything that would put him in conflict with the City. * Five years from now he envisions working for the City of Andover, seeing the City developing. Would enjoy supervising peope but didn't like to be the bossy type and felt there is always rOOm for corrections. * Holds an A Drivers License. Would like one or two week's notice before beginning the position. Bobby Ponder * Served 20 years in the Air Force where he was a mechanic, experienced in diesel generator maintenance and supervision. Worked at Greyhound as a bus mechanic rebuilding engines for 9 months. Is presently working for the City of Coon Rapids. Worked in the Parks Department flooding and building skating rinks, has done almost everything in the Parka Department. * Desires to grow with the City of Andover and knows he will start out as a manual laborer here. * Has dealt with the public on his job and felt it is something that requires a great deal of tact. To date he has had no complaints on the way he deals with the pUblic. Has had very little phone contact with the public. * Was a supervisor in the Service where he had to schedule all maintenance and operation of all equipment. Felt he would be capable of de terming hazardous situatias and setting priorities of jobs to be completed. Also cited supervisory experience while stationed in Alaska and Germany. Felt he would enjoy being a supervisor. Has his own tools for maintenance. * Has a Class B License. * Has been told his age is against him joining the Fire Department. If it is not, he would definitely consider joining. * Would be happy to go to school to become tree inspector. He is presently attending classes at Anoka Ramsey. * Felt the biggest problem in Andover is the streets and mowing of noxious weeds. * Had grader experience in 1965 but hasn't had any since, so it would take about two or three days operation to become efficient again. * Felt the winter work would consist of snowplowing, which is what he does in Coon Rapids. Would also be willing to trim trees, which he has done, etc., during the winter. * Would be willing to attend Council meetings if requested. * Wouldn't have a problem keeping track of his time as well as that of subordinates. * Mr. Ponder's reason for wanting to leave Coon Rapids is that in his present position he cannot advance for several years. He views this position as his opportunity to become something other than an equipment operator. He wants to become a supervisor and is willing to grow with the City. He felt he cou1d help the City. Special City Council Meeting July 25, 1978 - Minutes Page 4 (Bobby Ponder Interview, Continued) . Understands the position pays $7.50 an hour, which is more than he is presently making. · Didn't believe there is anything to put him in conflict with the City. · Five years from now he saw himself as foreman of a street department, if possible. He will climb as the job grows. · He maintains the sand and gravel streets in Coon Rapids. Has not been involved with grade stake areas in engineering. Does backdrag streets in major street repair when blacktop is dug up. · Would need at least two week's notice before beginning the job. Ted Tronson, his supervisor, could be contacted for a reference. Lloyd Reimann · Desires to work for the City he lives in. Presently works for the City of Minneapolis. · Works out of Equipment Department, which works for every Department in the City of Minneapolis; and deals with the public when complaints come in. Doesn't handle the public over the phone. Works for all foremen within the City. Also coaches broomball in which he deals with a lot of people. · When doing sewer construction, he was strawboss making sure the work gets done, organizing everything. · Did recordkeeping when doing sealcoating and has had budgeting experience while on the Road Improvement Committee for Andover. · Experience in the Parks Department was building new parks, tot lots, installing equipment, etc. · Would consider joining the Volunteer Fire Department in Andover. · Would be willing to obtain Tree Inspector Certification. · Felt Andover's biggest problem areas are roads and diseased trees. · Has had experience driving graders. · When doing sewer construction, they were verbally told what to do and there was no scheduling. · Has been a mechanic most all of his life and would be able to do equipment maintenance for Andover. · Mr. Reimann considered winter work to consist of trimming trees and getting ready for summer projects. He is used to outside work in the winter. · Would attend Council meetings if necessary. · Didn't think there is anything that would put him in conflict with the City. · Thought the position paid about $7.50 an hour and realized ftis less than he makes now; but he wants to work in the City he lives. Also, his present position is not year- round, and he would like full-time employment. He stated there will be no disability as a result of the broken bone in his foot. The cast will be taken off next week. · Five years from now he felt he'd still be working and didn't picture himself sitting behind a desk. Holds a B License. Special City Council Meeting July 25, 1978 - Minutes Page 5 (Lloyd Reimann Interview, Continued) * Has done snow removal, and is a regular rough-in grader on maintenance projects. Could do normal maintenance of streets. * Felt the road situation within the City is improving and that snow removal has been good. * Didn't feel there would be a problem workin~ with such a small staff. Ray Sowada * Started in the Sign Department in the City of Columbia Heights. Has worked in the Parks Department, read water meters, and has worked in the Streets Department for 10 years. Has worked on both heavy and light equipment. Is certified to do tree inspection. Works mainly on trees in the winter. Has gone through water school. Last fall attended classes through the Highway Department on signs and received a certificate. * Since he would be in the City during the day, he would consider joining the Volunteer Fire Department, but had pros and cons about it. * Felt Andover's problem areas are the upkeep of the sand roads, trees in the roads, some signs, and upgrading. * Has run a grader in winter and summer and felt he would be able to operate a grader for the City. * In his present position, the foreman divides the crews and sends them on different projects. When doing tree trimming, there is CETA help below him. He felt he would be able to prepare a work schedule for himself and others and to keep track of his as well as subordinate's time. * Maintenance in his present position is limited to checking tires, oil, radiators and minor repairs. Any major items are done by the City's mechanic. He would be able to do some of the minor maintenance on Andover's equipment. Does not do welding. * Would be willing to attend Council meetings. * Has a Class A Drivers License; doesn't have a license for sewer or water because he has not worked for a full year in Utilities. He has experience in that area; however, he has always worked with someone in the area who has experience. * Didn't think there was anything that would put him in conflict with Andover. * Wants to leave the Columbia Heights position because there are five people ahead of him, so there isn't much room for advancement into heavey equipment in the near future. Starting out with Andover, he could help the community with some of his experiences. * Hoped to start between $15,000 to $16,000 a year, close to what he is making now. * Five years from now he is hoping we would haTe equipment and a street department, and he would be trying to run and organize the department as a working foreman. * Didn't want to be a complete supervisor, but classified himself as a working foreman, working with the men but still being in charge. * He has read stake grading work. * Immediate work for the position, he felt, would be to use the tractor to cut down weeds along the roads and parks, removing trees near the edges of the roads -- many little things that could be done. * Seems the area he lives in is plowed a lot, but has heard that some of the areas need better service. Special City Council Meeting July 25, 1978 - Minutes Page 6 (Ray Sowada Interview, Continued) · Deals with people's complaints on the jOb and trsats them with respect. He forwards the major complaints to the City Manager. · Experience in parks has been running equipment, helped organize and maintain them, has helped flood rinks in the winter. His tree inspection is through the Parks Dept. · Would have no problem supervising building maintenance. When he was laid off from Columbia Heights one winter, he worked at the high school as a custodian for a three-to four-month period. John Terhell · Presently employed by the City of New Brighton mainly in the Street Department for the last five years. Before that had a service station for one year. In the Air Force he was basically in maintenance trained as a heavy equipment operator, Immediately out of high school, he worked for Swift and Company out of South St. Paul. · Has Class B drivers licsnss; has no sewer or water license. · Has a real estate license, and lists about three homes a year on a part-time basis, none of them in Andover, Works for Rosar in Coon Rapids, · He would like to move out in the country, and he would not be able to DBpond to calls within 20 minutes on the weekends he is assigned as required if he mOTed further out, · Would like about $1200 to 51250 a monthly salary, · Five years from now he would envision being in a supervisory position, · Has rough grading and road surface grading experience, Has done some grade staking, Has also done grading of Class 5 streets and felt he could maintain them, · College work has been mainly real estate, marketing, and business courses, · Presently does operator maintenance on equipment only, He is not a welder, · Felt he would be able to work with the small staff in Andover; he wouldn't want to sit behind a desk all day but is willing to do work himself, · Was a Staff Sargent in the Air Force in charge of 15 military people and 7 civilians, He had to schedule equipment maintenance, schedule personnel, reports had to be done, recordkeeping, etc, · Felt in dealing with the public that each case has to be dealt with on an individual basis, He has dealt with residents on his job. · Experiences in park maintenance has been assisting with hockey rinks, flooding rinks, worked on baseball fields, stripping baseball fields and tennis courts, · Lives in Coon Rapids, but if there was time, he would join the Volunteer Fire Dept. · Didn't think there would be a problem obtaining a tree inspector certificate, · Didn't feel there would be a problem doing maintenance on equipment except for major repairs, · Felt he could attend an occasional Council meethg, ~ Special City Council Meeting July 25, 1978 - Minutes Page 7 Park/Recreation Commission Interviews Continued Edna Meyer was asked a series of pre-determined questions alternately by Councilpersons. The Clerk testified that due to the lateness of receiving the application, she did not have time to send Ms. Meyer the Ordinances of the City. Those specific questions relating to the Ordinances were deleted from the interview. In addition, questions were asked about anything that would put her in conflict with the City, why she submitted an application for the position, and her opinion regarding the parks in the City. MOTION by Lachinsk1, Seconded by Orttel, to appoint Edna Meyer to the Park/Recreation Commission for a term to expire 12-31-79. Discussion: Councilperson VanderLaan stated it is a disservice to Ms. Meyer by interviewing her on such short notice. She was seriously handicapped, and the Council should not in the future interview anyone who has not received the documents from the office as per our regular procedure because it places the applicant in a very uncomfortable status. I as a Councilperson was not able to examine her qualifications or expose the knowledge that she may have to contribute to her serving on the park/Recreation Commission. The unfairness is to both the City and to the applicant to allow that to happen. VOTE ON MOTION: YES-Lachinsk1, McClure, Orttel, Windschitl; ABSTAIN-Vanderlaan because of her läèk of knowledge due to the ineffectiveness of the interview. Motion carried. Plannin~ and Zonin~ Commission Appointment MOTION by Lachinsk1, Seconded by Orttel, to appoint Don Jacobson to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term which expires 12-31-80. Motion carried unanimously. Selection of Senior Public Works Person Each Council member selected three of the five candidates they felt most qualified for the position. There was also some discussion on qualifications of the various applicants. The Clerk was directed to get references from the applicants, to phone the references and make a summary for the Council, and to place the item on the next Council Agenda. MOTION by McClure, Seconded by Orttel, to adjourn. ~l in favor said aye. Meeting adjourned at 10:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, \\\'(~'J~~ ~~~L Marcella A. Peach Recording Secretary -