1993-11-03 CC Budget MtgALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
BUDGET MEETING
November 3, 1993
Albertville City Hall
7:00 PM
PRESENT: MAyor Mike Potter, Councilmembers John Vetsch, Duane
Berning, Sharon Anderson and Albert Barthel, City Clerk Linda
Houghton, City employees Ann Culley, Mike Rutkowski and Ken Lindsay
Mayor Potter called the special meeting to order. The purpose
of the meeting is to set wages for City employees for 1994 and to
review the remainder of the 1994 budget.
City Clerk Linda Houghton has proposed a 5% wage increase
across the board. Employee performance reviews have been completed
and reviewed by the Council on August 9, 1993. Councilmember
Vetsch stated that no employees are not necessarily given a raise
annually, but rather raises should be based on employee merit and
their reviews. The Council agreed to review each employee
individually.
Mayor Potter proposed that Ann Culley be offered a 5% wage
increase for 1994. A 5% increase would amount to a $0.43 increase
per hour. Potter stated that Ann's reviews have been good and
warrant an increase in pay.
Councilmember Anderson stated that the average wage increase
according to the League of Minnesota Cities magazine is 3.44% ($.30
per hour). She suggested that Ann be offered a 3.44% increase in
wages and review again in six months. Potter recommended a
compromise and suggested Ann be offered a 4% increase.
Anderson made a motion to offer Ann Culley a 4% increase
($0.35 per hour) and re-evaluate her rate of pay in six months.
There was no second to the motion and the motion died.
Barthel made a motion to set Ann Culley's 1994 hourly rate at
$8.98 (a $0.30 per hour increase). Anderson seconded the motion.
Barthel and Anderson voted aye. Berning and Vetsch voted no.
Mayor Potter cast the deciding vote in favor of the motion. The
motion carried.
The Council considered a wage increase for employee Mike
Rutkowski. Anderson suggested that Mike receive the same 3.44%
increase as approved for Ann. Councilmember Berning stated that
because Mike Rutkowski is now in charge of the parks, he is in
favor of offering Mike a 5% increase in wages ($0.45 per hour)
n
because of the added responsibility.
Berning made a motion to set Mike Rutkowski's 1994 hourly wage
at $10.14 per hour (a $0.48 per hour increase). Barthel seconded
the motion. Berning, Barthel and Anderson voted aye. Vetsch voted
ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
BUGET MEETING
November 3, 1993
Page 2 of 3
no. The motion carried.
The Council considered the 1994 wages for Ken Lindsay.
Councilmember Vetsch stated that he would like to freeze Lindsay's
hourly rate for 1994 as his current rate of $14.92 per hour,
because Lindsay has less responsibility since Mike has been put in
charge of the parks. Both Councilmembers Berning and Anderson
agreed with Vetsch. Linda pointed out that Lindsay's wages have
been frozen since 1992. She also explained that there have been
increases in the size of the City of Albertville and consequently
more work involved. The expanded wastewater treatment facility
probably will also increase Ken's work load.
Vetsch made a motion to freeze the 1994 hourly rate for Ken
Lindsay at $14.92 per hour. Berning seconded the motion. Vetsch,
Berning, and Anderson voted aye. Barthel voted no. The motion
carried.
The Council considered the 1994 wage for City Clerk Linda
Houghton. The clerk is currently paid $14.43 per hour. Linda
stated that although she does not feel that the 5% increase across
the board for employees is unjustified, she would not ask for a
larger increase than the 3.44% increase the Council approved for
Ann Culley.
Barthel made a motion to set the 1994 hourly wage for Linda
Houghton at $14.93 (a $0.50 per hour increase). Anderson seconded
the motion. Barthel and Anderson voted aye. Berning and Vetsch
voted no. Mayor Potter cast the deciding vote in favor of the
motion. The motion carried.
Councilmember Berning questioned if Councilmember Anderson was
satisfied with the decision to freeze employee Ken Lindsay's hourly
rate. Anderson indicated she was slightly uncomfortable with the
decision and stated that she felt if employees are given nothing
the Council will get nothing in return. She proposed to offer Ken
Lindsay a 1% hourly rate increase. Lindsay stated a 1% raise was
"a slap in the face" and he would not accept that.
Councilmember Berning asked Mayor Potter to clarify his
position on the wage increases. Potter stated he had been in favor
of a 5% increase for Ann, opposed to the 3.44% that was passed.
He stated that the administrative end of the City is the most
important aspect and wages should reflect that. He also stated
that he would have preferred to bring Ann and Mike's hourly rate
more in line. .Both positions are assigned similar points. The
wages increases the Council has passed have now separated the wage
difference even more.
ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
BUGET MEETING
November 3, 1993
Page 3 of 3
Councilmember Berning explained that he was opposed to wage
increases for both Linda and Ann because it is his belief that the
City should have a part-time administrator. He stated that he
believes both Linda and Ann do a good job, but he was opposed to
hiring Ann as secretary in 1991 because he thinks a part-time
administrator is necessary. The other Councilmembers are in basic
agreement with the need for a part-time administrator. Linda
questioned whose position Berning was proposing to eliminate --the
clerk's or the secretary's --if a part-time administrator is hired.
Mayor Potter stated that some adjustments may have to be made.
When Ann Culley asked for a definition of this adjustment, Potter
stated no decision has been made. Linda questioned the Council's
reasoning behind hiring a part-time administrator if, as has been
stated, that both she and Ann are doing a good job. She was told
that a part-time administrator could possibly save the City money
in legal services and could recruit businesses to the City.
Berning stated that he believes the clerk/treasurer job is very
difficult and time consuming and that an administrator could cut
the work load.
Linda will create an additional department for "Shop" instead
of placing the shop area into "Buildings & Plant". Anderson made
a motion to continue this budget meeting to Monday, November 15,
1993, at 7:00 PM. The Council will review the final preliminary
1994 budget at that meeting. Barthel seconded the motion. All
voted aye.
Michael Potter, Mayor
i
Linda Hougfiton, erk