HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP May 8, 1978
('TY 01 ANDOVER
Special City Council Meeting - 5/8/78
1. Call to Order - 7:00 P.M.
2. Agenda Approval
3. Selection/ City Attorney
4. Interview - Naresh K. Jain
5. Personnel Committee Referrals
a. Conferences, Seminars, Schools
b. Disability Insurance
c. Health/Medical Benefits
d. City Hall Hours
e. Overtime Co=pensation
f. Fire Department Personnel
6. Public Works Building Committee Person
7. City Assessing
8. Junkyard License - Wilson
9. League Conference
10. Adjournment
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~ 01 ANDOVER
SPECIA.L CITY C01J1'TCIL HEETING - HAY 8, 1978
!1INUTES
A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Hayor Jerry Windschitl
on May 8, 197R, 7 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, for the
purpose of interviewing an applicant for the Andover Administrator/Engineer position and
for discussion on items remaining from the May 2 regularly scheduled Council meeting.
Councilpersons present: Lachinski, HcClure, Orttel, Vanderlaan
Councilpersons absent: None
Also present: City Clerk, p. K. Lindquist and Shirley Hatfield, reporter for
KANO radio
Ap-:end;} A trproval
MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Lachinski, to approve the Agenda as written. !'otion carried
unanimously.
Selection/~ity Attorney
A letter from Attorney Landol Locher of Babcock, Locher, Neilson & Iwnnella, dated May 8, 197e
relating to the backlog in the City of Andover prosecutions that existed on January 17, 1978,
was reviewed by the Council and the Clerk. The Clerk testified that in talking with Mr.
Hawkins on Friday, he thought that there were only several prosecutions unsettled when he
left the firm in January. The Clerk was directed to write to Mr. Hawkins for further
clarification of the items in IT. Locher's letter. Further discussion on this was deferred
until a res-ponse from Hr. Hawkins is received.
Personnel Committee Referrals - Conferences. Seminars. Schools
There was a lengthy discussion relative to the Persohnel Committee's recommendation and
the Clerk's su~gestions on the policy relative to conferences, seminars, and schools of
staff members (reference memo from City Clerk to Hayor and Council and Personnel Committee
dated April 27, 1978), CounCilperson Lachinski felt that it was the Personnel Committee's
recommendation that there not be a general policy, but that as much flexibility as possible
be ~tven to the Administrator to be the one to decide who should attend these and when,
That recommendation would then be reflected in the budget recommendation each year. Hayor
Windschitl and Ms. Lindquist both felt that a more definite policy should be established.
Discussion was on the pros and cons of each recommendation, the administration of each
policy, and how staff members would be affected by each.
MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by HcClure, that the Council submit the entire matter of
Conferences, Seminars, and Schools to the Administr2tor to have the Administrator draft
a policy. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel Committee Referrals - City Hall Hours
The Clerk reviewed her comments in the memo of April 27, 1978, on Personnel Committee
recommendations; and stated in talking with the staff members, the Council would not be
creating any hardship on them by changing City Hall working hours. She also stated that
staff would be rotating hours to work the extra hours on Hondays.
I!OTION by Vanderlaan, Seconded by Orttel, that the City Council authorize the following
hours be established for City gall business:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 8:00 - 4:30
Honday - 8:00 - 6:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
to be effective ~onday, May 15, 1978. Motion carried unanimously.
!;pecial City Council Heeting
Hay 8, lq78 - Minutes
'Pa~e 2
Personnel Committee Referrals - Overtime ComTIensation
Discussion was on whether or not holidays, sick leave, and vacation days should be counted
as regular working ho~ when determining aertime pay. The Clerk had checked with several
municipalities and school districts and found that most of them allow holidays as a physical
working day. !;he didn't find any who allowed sick leave or vacation included as a working
day when determining number of hours worked for overtime pay. Ms. Lindquist also stated
because the day of and the day after meetings are the busiest days for staff, they have
not been able to take compensatory time off as was originally suggested. Discussion to
be continued later in the meeting.
Interview - City Administrator/Engineer
~aresh K. Jain was interviewed at 8:05 p.m. for the position of City Administrator/Engineer.
Also þresent were two engineers to assist the Council with the interview: Jim Schrantz
from ~laine and Jim Voyen from TKDA. Councilperson Lachinski reviewed the resolutions
TIassed by the Council explaining the duties and responsibilities that might be involved in
the position of Administrator and of Engineer for the City. Mr. Jain then gave a brief
background of his experiences and qualifications. Afterwards the Council and Engineers
present asked questions relating to 1-~. Jain's resume; his experiences in administration,
~ra~t aTIPlic~tion, acquisition of easements, assessment computations, capital improvement
~lannin~, and interpretation of Ordinances; how he would command the respect of his sub-
ordinates~ his resiòency; his knowledge with State of MinŒSota law; availability of time
to attend meetings; his familiarity with subdivision platting procedures; experience with
brid~e or highway construction; familiarity with the maintenance area of public works;
and his involvement with the public hearing process.
· }T. Jain stated he has done all the things relative to the Engineering requirements.
in his job in Maryland. In that jOb he prepared reports and recommendations for improvement
projects; coordinated plans, specifications, and construction activities with the TIEidents
and the Gouncil; designed the sketch, preliminary and final plans for storm water and
hi~hway projects; was project enGineer for water, sewer, and highway projects for the
County; recommended easements to the Easement Department who would, in turn, negotiate with
the residents; recommended the budr,et for the Public Works Department; and attended the
Council meetings for discussing the County projectG. He was responsible for notifying the
public and explained County projects at public hearings, and prepared the program for the
Council for storm drainage water sewer specifications. He noted he had not been involved
with administrative work; however, he does hold a TIS degree in Business Administration
from Adra University' of India (1953-56) and a BS in Civil Engineering (1957-61).
· He has made application to become a Registered Engineer; his test will be taken in
}Tovernber, 1978. He had taken a test in Maryland, and Mr. Voyen felt that generally the
reciprocity would be applicable here.
· }·T. Jain noted the following which was not on his resume:
January, 1962, to May, 1974 -- Engineer in Dehli, India
June, 1974 -- came to New York where he worked as a manager at Ideal Toy factory
as personnel officer for the 1,000 employees, res¡:o nsible for the
payroll section and administrative in that he handled complaints.
}T. Alfred Johnson, supervisor
Hay, 1974 to May, 1977 -- worked with the County government in'Baltimore, Haryland
Hay, 1977 to December, 1977 -- worked for V~itrnan's Engineering firm in Maryland
as supervisor where he was designing the storm drainage projects
and roadway and highway. Mr. Whitman, his supervisor.
December, 1977, to present -- came to Minnesota and has been seeking employ~ent.
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Special City Council Meeting
}~ay 8, 1978 - l1inutes
Pa ge 3
OTaresh K. Jain, Interview - City Administrator/Engineer)
* !,~. Jain had made recommendations and requested funding for grants on projects;
however, someone else actually applied for them. He was also responsible for making
recommendations to the attorneys relative to assessments, but he did not actually do any
of the computations.
* As an Administrator, Hr. Jain felt he would listen to his subordinates very carefully
and try to solve problems. He would try to involve himself with the welfare of the employees
and hold meetbgs with them period ically.
* ~~. Jain stated he is a U. S. citizen.
* In India ~~. Jain has done some ca~ital improvement planning relative to storm
drainage projects for the City, which were funded by the State Government; he sent reports
to the State for grants.
* Mr. Jain stated if he was employed by the City, he would try to go to school to
become more familiar with State of Minnesota law. He stated he has not had much experienCß
in interpretation of Ordinances.
* Attending meetings of the Council, Planning Commission, etc., would present no
problem for him.
* }~. Jain stated he had not gotten very involved with administrative business and
felt he would have to study the things that would be required of him,
* In l1arYland, private citizens would submit plans and sketches for projects for
both residential and commercial development; and he would coordinate these plans during
the various stages of the proposed project relative to roadways and water drainage, About
50 plans per week were being submitted in the City of 3altimore, ~~. Jain was the Design
En~ineer responsible for reviewing and designing roads, storm drainage, and sewer. The
Inspection Department did the majority of the inspecting; although occasionally he would
also go out and inspect. Roadways in the developments varied from 1,000 to 2,000 feet,
. He has had no planning_type experience relative to planning of cities, ete.
* Yœ. Jain stated he did inspect projects occasionally; however, he was more involved
with design engineering than with maintenance as maintenance was taken care of by the
Inspection Department in Baltimore. He had done troubleshooting of problems in the water
sewer system. He had not gone down into a sewer manhole.
* In ~~ryland there was a Director of Public Works; he was an Engineer II and in
char~e of the three other Engineer Is in the area of design of highway and storm drainage.
There were also five other engineers in the Department of 17ater Projects and Pollution
Control.
Ten-minute recess at 8:55 p.m,
Public Works Building Committee Person
After a discussion on whether or not Bob Muscovitz should be appointed to the Committee
to plan the Fire Station/Public Works Building, the general consensus was to accept ~w.
Kasma's Suggestion made on ~~y 2 to get input from all staff members during the regular
business hours.
City Assessbg
Discussion was on whether or not the County should take over the assessing for the City of
Andover and who should represent the City during the local board of review on !1ay 18.
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Special City Council Meeting
Hay 8, 1978 - Hinutes
Par,e 4
(Gity Assessing, Continued)
MOTIO~ by Orttel, Seconded by McClure, that the City Council require David Clough to
represent the City as City Assessor for the Board of Review and also authorize the Clerk
to ner,otiate with Jim Thurston for his attendance at the Board of Review. Motion carried
un8nir.lOusly.
HOT TON by Orttel, Seconded by I1cClure, that the Council direct the Clerk to investigate
different alternatives to provide City assessing to include an exact contract price from
the County of Anoka and also independent assessors that she may be aware of. Hotion
carried unanimously.
Junkyard I,icense - Wilson
Discussion was on the findings of Attorney Hawkins as noted in a letter to the Clerk dated
April 3, 1978, and the questions raised by the Council relative to this particular junkyard.
~mTI01lJ by VanderLaan, Seconded by HcClure, that the City Council direct the City Clerk to
authorize appropriate staff member to do investigative work of the Gordon Wilson Junkyard
License and to forward the appropriate information on to Attorney William Hawkins for
opinion regarding junkyard operation compliance with Ordinance No.9, complaince with
Ordinance No. 8 reßarding processing operation allegedly going on, and Ordinance~,No. 10
as referenc~ to in a letter of April 3, 1978, from 11illiam G. Ha wlcins. Motion carried
unanimously.
I.oo ~ue Conference
Hs. Lindauist explained the conference dates are June 6, 7, 8, and 9, and the registration
has been budgeted for Council members and staff to attend if they so desire. Anyone
desirin~ to attend must contact r,~. Lindquist within the next week for advance registration.
Personnel Committee Referrals - Disability Insurance
Hs. Lindquist stated staff members have indicated if the City will pay for the disability
insurance_ they would be willing to apply; however, if there were to be a charge, most
were not interested. General consensus of the Council was that no further Council action
be taken on this item.
MOTTON by Orttel, Seconded by Lachinski, that the matter of Health/Medical Benefits and
Fire Department City Personnel be referred back to the Personnel Com~ittee for their
recor.'lmendations. J.!otion carried unanimously.
Personnel Co~~ittee Referrals - Overtime CO~TIensation
Discussion continued on whether or not to include holidays, sick leave, and vacation days
as a re~ular working day when corn~uting overtime hours. Because it is illegal for the City
Hall to be O1'en on holidays and staff ~ust, therefore, take the day off, it was felt that
it would be appropriate to include that time as a physical working day. It Vias also the
feelin~ of the Council that sick leave and vacation time would not be included.
HOTION by Vanderlaan, Seconded by Lachinski, that the City Council authorize the Clerk to
preuare a Resolution amending the Uniform Policy of Employee Benefits to add to the
definition of the basic work week the intent of the Council that Holidays shall be used
in the computation of tbe work week for purposes of overtime. (See Resolution R52-8)
Motion carried unaniMously.
MnTrO~ by Orttel, Seconded by I~chinski, to adjourn. All in favor said aye.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Resuectfully submi ttec!.-- ..~ ^
\\~~.,~~~- ~-,L
Harc lia A. Peach .