1996-04-15 CC Agenda Special 6:30 p.m.ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
April 15, 1996
6:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/ADOPT
(Mayor/Clerk/Council)
2. SPECIAL ORDER (Council/Employee)
- Personnel
3 . ADM RNMENT ( Counci 1)
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ALBERTV I LLE CITY COUNC I L
SPECIAL MEETING
April 15, 1996
Albertville City Hall 6:30 PM
PRESENT: Mayor Michael Potter, Councilmembers Duane Berning,
John Vetsch, and Curt Muyres, City Attorney Mike Couri, City
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 without confirmation
approval from the Mayor. (Mayor directed by City Council to
approve use of supplemental help).
Employee X responded that a message had been left 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 recalling the mayor for prior approval for supplemental
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 Council the Personnel Committee
recommended a two day suspension without pay.
Employee X stated snow plowing call out is a judgment call.
Discussion was held that the city has gone out when the county goes
out as a past practice.
ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CLOSED MEETING
April 15, 1996
Page 2 of 2
Councilmembers Berning, Muyres and Vetsch inquired of the
Mayor and Employee X about the confusion that appeared to exist in
the process for communicating. Further discussion focused on prior
authorization, the approval process and communication.
The Councilmembers emphasized "prior authorization" and "chain
of command". Councilmember Muyres reinforced the need for complete
communication.
Further discussion was held on the proposed discipline.
Councilmember Berning inquired of City Administrator Hale as to why
no recommendation on discipline was made by him. Hale stated due
to the confusion, no obvious course of action was apparent and
discussion by the Personnel Committee would help to sort out the
specific situation.
City Attorney Couri explained "progressive discipline". He
informed those present that there is considerable latitude in
determining the severity of discipline to be administered. Same or
similar offenses could accumulate leading to progressive discipline
and for a serious offense the administrator and/or ,-ouncyl could
move rapidly to serious disciplinary action. The Council needs to
consider consistency and equality of offenses as thcy relate to the
disciplinary action.
Moved by Muyres, supported by Berning, to dismiss the
Personnel Committee's recommendation for a two day suspension
without pay. Further, to uphold that a written reprimand be placed
in Employee X's file for not obtaining "prior authorization" for
utilizing additional supplementary help and violating the "chain of
command". The written reprimand will remain on file for ninety
days from the date of this meeting. In the event there are no same
or similar offenses, the written reprimand will 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.
Moved by Muyres, supported by Berning, to adjourn the meeting
at 7:03 PM. Motion carried unanimously.
Michael Potter, Mayor
Garrison Hale, De -,Duty Clerk