Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/06/2013CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING 6 FEBRUARY 2013 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, at 4:03 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: R. Greco, Chair; S Dooley, P. Engels, P. Mackenzie, H. Riehle Also Present: R. Rusten, Deputy City Manager; S. Stitzel, City Attorney; D. Kinville, City Clerk; Chief T. Whipple, Police Department; M. Lyons, Assessor’s Office; J. Ladd, I. Blanchard, City Manager’s Office; J. Rabidoux, Public Works Department; M. Simoneau, F. Lees 1. Executive Session: Mr. Engels moved the Council meet in executive session to discuss personnel matters. Ms. Dooley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: Mr. Engels moved the Council exit executive session. Ms. Riehle seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 1. Discussion of South Burlington Interim City Manager Appointment Process: Ms. Greco asked Mr. Rusten if he would serve as interim City Manager. Mr. Rusten said he would serve in the short term until a long term interim City Manager is found. Ms. Riehle moved to appoint Bob Rusten as temporary interim City Manager subject to an acceptable agreement, and to empower the Chair to sign such an agreement. Mr. Engels seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Greco noted that the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) has assisted in the past with this. Mr. Stitzel said VLCT maintains contact with former Vermont city managers who could be interested in short term positions while a city is searching for a City Manager. Mr. Stitzel added that he spoke with VLCT today and they will provide the city with a list of names. The city would then have the opportunity to interview any of these people to see if there is an acceptable candidate. Mr. Stitzel said most communities have found this process and the interim city managers hired under the process to be satisfactory. Ms. Greco asked if an interim city manager could become full time. Mr. Stitzel said typically these people are not interested in full time, and considering an interim person for the full time position could discourage other good candidates from applying. Mr. Stitzel said he can arrange to have a list of potential names available for the meeting of 19 February. Members were OK with this process. 2. Discussion of South Burlington City Manager Hiring Process: Mr. Stitzel said he has found that VLCT is less expensive than other groups who provide these kinds of services. He explained the process that was used the last time. A committee developed criteria and then reviewed all the applications. Telephone interviews were conducted with 10 candidates who were then narrowed down to 5. Finalists were interviewed by department heads as well as the City Council. Ms. Ladd said there is a process and job description available in the office. Ms. Kinville suggested increasing the number of telephone interviews. Mr. Rusten suggested that the long-term interim City Manager be on the committee. Mr. Lees, who is the “historian for the community,” and is now publishing “South Burlington Life,” said he would like to be involved. Ms. Greco also suggested getting input from the community as to what they would like in a City Manager. 3. Discussion of Financial Costs to the City of City Manager Termination and Plans to Address These: Mr. Rusten noted that 21 weeks of the year’s salary that will be owed to Mr. Miller is already in the FY13 budget. 31 weeks’ salary would have to come from the FY14 budget. There would also be additional costs in the FY13 budget for an interim City Manager and potentially a new City Manager. There is also vacation money and sick time not used that would have to be calculated as well as other benefits. The contract requires that the full salary be paid within 2 weeks of dismissal, but the other benefits can take longer to compute. Mr. Rusten also noted other costs to consider including: A. legal costs B. costs for interim and full time City Manager search C. a new City Manager’s salary Mr. Rusten said the city can pay the FY13 and FY14 salary and not create a “fiscal hole.” Ms. Riehle asked the cost of a search. Ms. Dooley recollected it was $6,000-7,000. Mr. Rusten said he would estimate $10,000.00, which would include background checks. Ms. Dooley asked if there is any contingency money left. Mr. Rusten said it is all accounted for. Mr. Lees asked if the public can know the terms of a new contract before it is signed. Ms. Greco said the contract is negotiated in executive session because it is a personnel issue. It will be made public when it is signed. Ms. Dooley said there will be a stated “salary range.” As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. _____________________________ Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.