1996-04-15 CC Minutes Special 6:30 p.m.
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ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL HEETIRG
April 15, 1996
Albertville City Hall
6:30 PM
PRESENT: Mayor Michael Potter, Councilmembers Duane Berning,
John Vetsch, and Curt Muyres, Ci ty At torney Mike Couri, Ci ty
Administrator/Deputy Clerk Garrison Hale
Mayor Potter convened the special meeting of the Albertville
City Council for the purpose of dealing with employee discipline.
Moved by Berning, supported by Vetsch, to adopt the agenda
presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Employee X was asked whether the meeting was to be open or
closed. Employee X requested a closed meeting and the City
Attorney approved due to the fact employee discipline was involved.
Mayor Potter explained that the employee has received an
"Employee Warning Notice" on calling in an additional Maintenance
Worker for the purposes of snow plowing wi thout confirmation
approval from the Mayor. (Mayor directed by City Council to
approve use of supplemental help).
Employee X responded that a message had been I eft on the
mayor's answering machine on March 6, 1996, and mayor did not
respond. The mayor confirms receipt of the telephone call and non-
response to the call. The mayor informed the council the message
was generic and did not include a purpose, reason or some priority
for returning the call. Purpose of the call was for calling out
supplemental help for snow plowing.
Employee X informed the Council weather reports were forecast
at 4-6 inches. Later forecasts were revised to 2-3 inches. City
snow plow policy is to plow two inches or more. Employee X admits
to not recall ing the mayor for prior approval for suppl emental
help. Rather, Employee X took it upon his own initiative and
called out a maintenance worker. Further, the employee admitted
awareness of the formal chain of command and the Council's
directive to seek prior approval.
Mayor Potter informed the Counci I the Personnel Commi t tee
recommended a two day suspension without pay.
Employee X stated snow plowing callout is a judgment call.
Discussion was held that the city has gone out when the county goes
out as a past practice.
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ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CLOSED MEETING
April 15, i996
Page 2 of 2
Counci lmembers Berning, Muyres and Vetsch inqui red of the
Mayor and Employee X about the confusion that appeared to exist in
the process for communicating. Further discussion focused orprlor
authorization, the approval process and communication.
The Counci I members emphas i zed "pri or authori za ti on" and" chain
of command". Counci Imember Muyres reinforced the need for compl ete
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communlca~lon.
Further discussion was held on the proposed discipline.
Councilmember Berning inquired of City Administrator Hale as to why
no recommendation on disclpline was made by him. Hale stated due
to the confusion, no obvious course of action was apparent and
d1Scussion hv the Personnel Commlttee would help to sort out the
specific situation.
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Ci ty At torney Couri expl ained "proqressi ve dlscipl L:i.::;" . He
informed those present that thet"e is considerable latitude 1n
determlDlng the severity of discipline to be administered. Same or
similar offenses could accumulate leading to progressive discipline
and fnr ::1 serious offense the admini'.~:trator and/or ':Gl!"~ 1 could
move rapidly to serious disciplinary action. The Council needs to
consider CJnSlstefl':CY ar,d equaL: ty ut c'l'tenses as tL If.:-l '.:" to t]:>2-
disciplinary action.
Moved by Muyres, supported by Berning, to dismiss the
Personnel Committee's recommendation for a two day suspension
wlthout pay. Further, to uphold that a written reprimand be placed
in Employee X's file for not obtaining "prior authorization" for
utilizin<} additional supplementary help and violating th(-~ "c'hain of
command" . The wri t ten reprimand wi 11 remain on f i 1 e f 01- ninet y
days from the date of this meeting. In the event there are no same
or similar offenses, the written reprimand wi~l be removed from the
file. Should there be a same or similar offense during the ninety
day period, a two (2) day suspension without pay will be
reconsidered. Muyres, Berning, and Potter voted aye. Vetsch voted
no. The motion carried.
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Moved by Muyres, supported by Berning, to adJourn the meeting
at 7:03 PM. Motion carried unan1mously.
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Michael Potter, Mayor
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Garrison Hale. Deputv ~lerk