HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP March 12, 1979
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~ o¡ ANDOVER
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MARCH 12, 1979
MINUTES
A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jerry
Windschitl on March 12, 1979, 7:36 p.m. at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Blvd. N.W.
Councilmen Present: Jacobson, Orttel, Peach
Councilman Absent: Lachinski
Also Present: City Clerk, P.K. Lindquist
CLERK-TYPIST POSITION (BUILDING DEPT. AND PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION)
The applicants were asked specific quttions by each one of the Council members and the
Mayor. The answers are as follows:
Joyce Boos - 15308 -7th Ave. N.W. - Ms. Boos was City Clerk from Marc4 1969 to Marc4 1970.
In addition to other duties, she kept building permits in order and referred phone calls
to the Town Supervisors or the building inspector. She believes she can type 45-55 words
per minute and stated she does not have shorthand. In response to a later question, she
said she has taken shorthand but hasn't used it in a long time and wouldn't trust herself
with it. City Clerk, Pat Lindquist, stated pUblic contact would take approximately 10%
of this person's time. Ms. Boos said if she came in contact with an abusive citizen or
contractor, she would really seem interested in their problem and refer them to the proper
person at an appropriate time. She thought $4.00 an hour would be a fair salary. Noted
was that Ms. Boos has not had any office experience for 8 years. She believes she is
qualified for the position, is very stable and not easily rattled. Also, correct spelling
and punctuation, she thought, were very important in an office. She now finds herself in
need of a full time job and could start any time and would not have any problem in working
overtime if the need arose.
Nancy Larson - 13878 Crosstown Blvd. N.W. - Ms. Larson stated she types 70 words per minute.
Her reason for leaving Honeywell after six months was she didn't care to run a key punch
machine 8 hours a day and wanted a position with varied duties. She is presently employed
by the school district and feels there is no chance for advancement. The pay is low, her
present salary is $650.00 per month and she has been there since 1975; She would expect
more than $650.00 a month to start. Dealing with students and parents is 'a part of her
present position so she has had a great deal of public contact. She is not acquainted
with or related to anyone employed by the City. Three references are the Principal of
Coon Rapids Jr. High School, Jackie Lobber and Dr. Pichner of the Forest Lake Clinic.
Victoria Volk - 3527 - 142nd La. N.W. - Ms. Volk stated she can type 85 words per minute.
She has had alot of public contact and tactfully handled verbal abuse while employed at
Barry Blower. She has no relatives or acquaintances working at City Hall. Her main reason
for applying for this position is she does not want to continue driving 50 miles a day.
Also, she no longer cares to work in a place where they make bombs and torpedos. She has
passed a 90 wpm shorthand test but feels she could handle 100-120 wpm. Her starting salary
at Honeywell was $750.00 and she is now making $825.00. She would agree to a salary of
approximately $700.00 a month. The savings in gas and driving time would make up some of
the reduced salary. She would like public contact 50% of the time and typing the other
half. Constant interruptionfdo not bother her. References are Bob Lochwood, President of
Barry Blower, 571-5200; Win Peterson, Calhoun Realty, 920-8800, and Michael Emmons of the
Gate Co. (real estate company). ~~en asked if she had any questions, she asked what the
office hours were.
Special City Coun, Meeti
March 12, 1979
Page #2
Kathryn Wilson - 2025 - 229th Ave. N.E., Bethel - Ms. Wilson is presently employed by
the Anoka County Social Services Dept. in the word processing center. There is very little
public contact in her present position. She has no relatives or acquaintances working for
the City. About two years ago she took a shorthand test at 60 wpm, but hasn't used it
since. She is open on salary. Presently she is making $604.00 a month transcribing tapes.
She spent five months at Northwestern National Life Insurance Co. in 1973 and did not go
back to work until 1978. At the City of Alexandria, she was involved in the licenses,
typed the Council minutes and got information out. She left one jOb due to pregnancy
and another due to baby sitter problems. Three references are Marian Urbaniak, Anoka Co.
Social Services; James Kingwirth, Northwestern National Life Insurance Co.; Mr. and 1ITs.
Charles Kech, Rt. 1, Box 128, Carver, Minn. 55314. One of the reasons she is applying
for the position is that she would like to get to know the City and would intend on staying
as long as possible.
PLANNING & ZONING RECORDING SECRETARY POSITION
Judith Dudziak - 19404 Flamingo St. N.W., Cedar - Ms. Dudziak stated she can take shorthand
at 90-120 wpm. On-the subject of' salary, she said she didn't know what to put down. At
Blaine she worked at an hourly rate but understands Andover pays a flat rate. She does
not own a typewriter but d'Arcy Bosell will lend her one. When asked why she applied for
this position, she stated she would like to work part time close to home. Late hours
wouldn't bother her; the Blaine meetings sometimes lasted to 1:00-2:00 a.m. She would
have a rough draft of the minutes ready the next morning. When she left Blaine, she was
getting $4.50 an hour averaging approx. $40 per meeting. !lore than two meetings a month
would not pose a problem. After an average four hour meeting at Blaine, it would take
her one to two hours to make a rough draft of the minutes. The City Manager would
go over them and then she did the final draft. Blaine does not tape their meetings. She
is not acquainted with or related to any of the employees at City Hall. Her reason for
leaving Blaine was because they gave the position to the City Clerk.
1fury West - 2240 - l40th Ave. N.W. - The Council had not received a resume from Ms. West.
She worked for the telephone company as an operator, then at F. C. Heyer Co. There she
acted as a receptionist, secretary, biller and had other miscellaneous duties. After
F. C. Heyer Co., she was a housewife and stayed home. In late 1970 or early 1971 she
was Deputy Clerk to Carol Pinheiro. Carol resigned in 1971 and she then took over as Clerk.
The next year she was elected as Township Clerk. By May of 1973 she had four children
and decided to resign. Since then she has been active as an election judge and at present
is a chief election judge. When she took the Township Board minutes, it took her a few
hours to transcribe them. She does not have shorthand but her own form of speedwriting.
More than two meetings a month would not pose a problem. She does not own a typewriter
but felt she would purchase one for her own use as well as her childrens. As far as
salary, she suggested $7.00 an hour. She -was not willing to get the minutes in the
next morning but thought possibly she could get them done in the afternoon.
Discussion: Mayor Windschitl stated a system should be set up whereby references are
checked before the Council interviews. Councilman Orttel agreed with him and added an
interview form would be helpful. !Æayor Windschitl asked if any one stood out above the
rest. Councilman Jacobson stated he felt Victoria Volk stood out in his mind, although
she might be a little too quiet for public contact. Mayor Windschitl stated there would
be a substantial reduction in wages; $650.00 might be unacceptable to her. Also, she
might be overqualified for the position. Noting the salary the County and School District
is paying, perhaps Andover is offering too much. Pat Lindquist explained the starting
salary is based on an average of similar positions taken from the Stanton report. The
lack of benefits is one reason for the higher pay scale. She then cited an instance
in the past of hiring an underqualified person and the strain it put on the rest of
the staff due to her inefficiency. Councilperson Jacobson noted the incomplete sentences
Special City Coun Meeti_
March 12, 1979
Page #3
and spelling errors on Joyce Boos' resume. The Council then narrowed the applicants dOVlIl
to two persons and then discussed the starting salary. Mayor Windschitl stated he had
no problem with a $650-700.00 range, but would the City make use of her skills? Pat
Lindquist stated there are times when a substitute is needed to take minutes, also we
might expand into an area where her skills would be used. When an administrator is hired,
the ability to take dictation could become very important. Councilman Peach suggested
$650.00 to start and up to $725.00 after a six month probationary period. Councilman
Orttel said that would put the end of the probationary period into October and then the
question of whether or not she should receive a raise in January would be a problem.
If this person did not receive the full $75.00 increase, there would be a morale problem.
Pat Lindquist commented if you start a person out at $3.50 or $3.75 an hour ($606 or $650
a month), she is going to ask how come she is paid so much below the rest. Councilman
Jacobson stated the City should have a starting range and a top range for each position
and every year it would shift to the next step. Naturally, they would be increased
because of inflation and other factors such as additional duties, etc.
MOTION by Jacobson, seconded by Orttel, that we offer the job of Clerk-Typist position for
the City of Andover to Ms. Victoria Volk at the rate of $675.00 per month with a 90 day
probationary period; and with the successful completion of the probationary period, an
increase of $25.00, for a total of $700.00 per month.
MOTION by Peach to amend the above motion to change the salary with the possible increase
after 1$0 days to $725.00. Motion dies for lack of a second.
VOTE ON MOTION: Yes: Windschitl, Jacobson, Orttel - No: Peach. Motion carried.
For the record, Councilman Peach stated his no vote was not a lack of confidence, it was
in the method of payment.
Pat Lindquist stated she called the City Clerk at Blaine and she very highly recommended
Judy Dudziak. The Council was confused as to what Mary West meant by $7.00 an hour. Was
this meeting time or total time? Pat Lindquist commented Mary's minutes for the Town
Board's meetings usually ran 1 - 1 1/2 pages. Councilman Peach said Planning and Zoning
minutes were less difficult than City Council minutes. Paying an hourly wage or on a
contractural basis was discussed. It was felt payment should be on the same basis as
the City Council recording secretary, ie., contractural. Since Judy Dudziak has more
recent experience using shorthand, the following motion was made:
MOTION by Peach, seconded by Jacobson, to hire Ms. Judy Dudziak at a rate of $40.00 per
meeting as Planning & Zoning recording secretary. Motion carried unanimously.
RELATIVE POLICY
This item is to be carried over to another meeting since a problem does not presently
exist due to Karen Sowada's withdrawing her application for Planning & Zoning recording
secretary.
ID.!C CONFERENCE
Mayor Windschitl stated he has difficulty with out of town conferences because the
Council is not furnished with a decent agenda. Pat Lindquist said complete agendas are
not made up until 2-3 weeks before the conference. Next year the conference is in
Canada and probably will deal with English law which is unrelated to our situation.
The following year the conference will be held in Minneapolis. Compulsory attendance
to these conferences (once every three years) is required for National certification, the
State does not require this. Although the Personnel Committee minutes are not done,
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March 12, 1979 -
Councilman Orttel advised they have recommended an amount of $470.00 to go towards the
expenses of this conference. Mayor Windschitl stated the rule that you have to attend
a conference once every three years in order to maintain certification is unreasonable.
Pat Lindquist then explained the point system for both National and State certification.
MOTION by Jacobson, seconded by Orttel, to authorize the Andover City Clerk to attend
the IIMC Conference at Bal Harbor, Florida, May 20th to May 24th, 1979; the amount of
expenditure not to exceed $470.00, receip~ are to be furnished to the City for proof
of payment; and to require a written report on the conference be presented to the Council
and that vacation time in 1979 be used for attendance of the conference.
Discussion: The City should have a policy outlining who gets to go where and why. Councilman
Peach felt $470.00 is a pretty inexpensive way to get a person down to Florida and back.
However, in looking at a City with a population of 10,000 with 7-8 employees and the
possibility of hiring an administrator in the near future, he feels $470.00 is an
excessive amount to spend for training. The same result could be obtained by attending
local training sessions. Pat Lindquist stated local conferences used to cost $35-40.00
for a full 8 hours. Now they seem to be running $100-125.00 for two days. She feels she
would gain more by attendir~ this conference than 4 or 5 local schools. The conference
would end up being less expensive. Mayor Windschitl wondered how much time the City could
afford to have someone away from the job. Pat Lindquist stated if the City had a policy
on conference attendance/training sessions, it would be much easier to prepare the budget.
VOTE ON MOTION: Yes: Jacobson, Orttel - No: Peach - Abstain: Windschitl
Mayor Windschitl's abstain vote reflects the fact that he has some concerns as to the
agenda materials and also concerns over the fact that we would be penalizing Pat because
of a lack of policy if we didn't let her go.
OVERAGE ON BUDGET/SNOW & ICE REMOVAL
Pat Lindquist advised the overage on snow & ice removal will not exceed the estimated surplus.
MOTION by Ortte1, seconded by Peach, that an amount up to $5625.0q shown as surplus funds
in the 1979 budget, be allocated to snow & ice removal. Motion carried unanimously.
Explanation of surplus funds will be taken up at a future meeting.
TKDA AUTHORIZATION - INSPECTIONS/APPROVE PAYlIENT - PUBLIC SERVICE BLDG.
Councilman Peach stated a motion has not been made to authorize TKDA to inspect and
approve payments, a motion was made last August approving the concept of such authorization.
MOTION by Peach, seconded by Ortte1, that the City of Andover enter into an agreement with
TKDA to make inspections and approve payments for the Public Service Building for an amount
not to exceed $1250.00. Motion carried unanimously.
MEETING DATE - OLSEN & THIELEN, INC.
Pat Lindquist advised the audit report received was a preliminary, a final report will be
received shortly. Olson & Thielen usually meet with the various City Councils but never
have with Andover and desire to do so. It was decided the audit firm should meet with the
Finance Committee on Monday, April 9, 1979, 7:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF CLAIM - MOTION by Orttel, seconded by Peach, to approve Check #272 in the amount
of $4500.00 to Bloomberg, Inc. for the 1st estimate. Motion carried unanimously.
MOTION by Ortte1, seconded by Peach, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted: ~a~/Þ/£ Rae Ellen Bakke, Recording Secretary
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