HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP August 25,1992
CA. CITY of ANDOVER
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - AUGUST 25. 1992
MINUTES
A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by
Mayor Ken Orttel on August 25, 1992, 7:32 p.m., at the Andover City
HaJ I. 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota, to Interview
candidates for the position of City Finance Director.
Councilmembers present: Jacobson. McKelvey, Perry
Councilmember absent: Sml th
Also present: City Administrator, James Schrantz
City Treasurer, Shirley Clinton
The Counc II Interviewed the following applicants:
Linda Bergstrom
Daryl Sulander
Alan Fol Ie
The Counc 11 questIoned the applIcants on a rotatIng basIs regardIng
the dutIes of theIr present posItIons, theIr experIences In the
varIous financIal areas. the reasons for desIrIng thIs posItIon, theIr
strengths and weaknesses, the salary of thIs posItIon, etc.
LINDA BERGSTROM - Is very comfortable wIth the pay at RobbInsdale but
feels there are tradeoffs. She's wIllIng to gIve up some of the pay
to get more experIence In her career. She lIkes the challenge thIs
posItIon provIdes and would lIke to be able to try some of her own
Ideas that she cannot InItate at her present posItIon. BeIng In
charge appeals to her. Her experIence In Investments has been
mInImal. mostly In Maple Grove. She Is currently responsIble for the
CIty's insurance and Is back-up payroll processor. She is also
knowledgeable In the varIous governmental requIrements of employees.
Ms. Bergstrom stated she least lIkes the monotony of some aspects of
the Job and Is working to delegate more dutIes to others. AI I of her
Job moves have been an advancement In her career. She also feels that
there Is no more room to advance In RobbInsdale. She has not had
experIence addressing the public but has made presentatIons to the
CouncIl. ThIs positIon has been a career goal of hers since she
started workIng In government fInancIng. She looked forward to
workIng In a communIty that Is growIng, that she can grow wIth and
contrIbute to In any way that she can.
DARYL SULANDER - As AssIstant FInance DIrector In Plymouth, he handles
a portIon of the personnel recordkeepIng plus oversIght
responsIbIlItIes for seven employees. He Is Interested In thIs
posItion because he has topped out wIth Plymouth. To contInue hIs
career growth, he has to Jook elsewhere. He'd lIke to advance to a
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Special Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes - August 25. 1992
Page 2
(Daryl Sulander Interview, Continued)
director of a Departrment. He is not concerned about the salary,
hoping that in this position, he would have more time to complete his
Master's Degree in Business Administration. Sometimes accounting gets
routine. but he tries to find ways of improving or automating tasks
when possible. He has assisted with the preparation of the entire
City bueget and was personally responsible for accounting and data
processing Staff with a budget of $350,000. The overa I I General Fund
for Plymouth Is over $11 million and total budgetary responsibility of
over $20 million. He has not been responsible for insurance. The
Director at Plymouth Is responsible for the daily Investments, but he
has oversight responsibilities to be sure the Investments are
generated through the accounting system properly and the appropriate
security pledges are in place. He had no problem attending Council
meetings. His long-range goal is to be a Financial Director for a
number of years, which may eventually lead to general administration.
His public presentations have been very limi ted, though he has
presented a number of Items to the City Council. He presented the
results of a committee established to Improve customer service and the
City's relationship with the business community and the residents.
Mr. Sulander stated he is looking for an opportunity to continue his
career in the finance area and in supervising others. He enjoys
working with the public and he would like to have an opportunity to
grow with the City of Andover.
ALAN FOLIE - gave up his Job as State Auditor to help his brothers run
his dad's company. Things haven't gone as well as he had hoped and
he'd like to get back into a more secure field like this position
provides. He has been responsible for all the bookkeeping and payroll
plus other duties. There wouldn't be a problem with the company If he
took this Job, as he would sell his shares In the company. He has
audited counties In the State that began Worker's Comp Trust Funds,
though he didn't have a lot to do with It. He Is responsible for
Insurance in his present position. By auditing counties, he is
familiar with the regulations regarding Investments, and he is
Interested In investments as a hobby, feeling both will be helpful In
this posi tion. His experience with the budget has been obtaining
Information from the counties and preparing the financial statements,
though he is very familiar with the budgeting process. He has no
problem dealing with personnel, feel ing he is qualified to do so.
Supervising experience has been that of a auditing crew about one-half
of the time. Attending night meetings would not be a problem. He has
not addressed the public, though he has made presentations of findings
to county boards. His weakness has been loosing his temper, though he
felt he has that under control. This position is appealing to him
because he'd like the opportunity to be a part of the growth of the
community.
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Special Andover City Council Meeting
Minutes - August 25, 1992
Page 3
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Counc II discussed the qualifications of the three applicants. with
each Councllmember and Staff expressing an opinion as to the strengths
and weaknesses of each candidate. Salary was also discussed. After
the discussion, the following motion was made:
MOTION by Perry, Seconded by Jacobson, that the position of Finance
Director be offered to Daryl Sulander at the annual rate of $37,500
with a six-month probationary period and a $1,000 Increase after his
satisfactory performance; and If Daryl rejects the offer. the position
would then be offered to Linda Bergstrom. If Daryl counters, then the
CouncIl wIll be contacted for reconsIderatIon. MotIon carrIed on a
4-Yes, 1-Absent (smith) vote.
MOTION by Jacobson to adjourn. Mayor OrtteI declared the meeting
adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~~~~
Marcella A. Peach
RecordIng Secretary
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