HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-11-28 CRC MINS MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
`. CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER-., 28, 1994
November 28, 1994 Council Conference Room4 : 30 p.m.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Campbell, Sharon Reid, Jack Blakely,
Rosie Bystrak and Deric Prescott
MEMBERS ABSENT: Janet Lawry (excused) and Linda Brown
(unexcused)
STAFF PRESENT: City Attorney Bruce Boogaard, Director' of
Personnel Candy Boshell ' :
OTHERS PRESENT: Board of Ethics Member Susan Herney
The meeting was 'called to order by Chairperson Campbell at .4:40
P.M. The roll was called and all members were present except
Member Lawry, who was excused due to her father's illness, and
Member Brown who was unexcused.
MSUC (Prescott/Blakely) to approve the minutes of the November. 7 ,
1994 regular meeting.
Chairman Campbell introduced Candy Boshell who was requested to
attend the meeting and provide the Commission with 'a definition
regarding classified v. unclassified employees. Ms. Boshell
explained that the majority of employees are classified thereby
protected by the Civil Service Rules, subjectto the merit
principle and afforded rights of appeal. Unclassified employees
serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority, hence the term,
"at will" . The number of unclassified employees is limited and
include executive level positions, higher level mid-management
positions and a very few secretarial positions. She commented she
never fully understood why secretarial positions are unclassified
because they , do not have the level of authority that other
unclassified positions have.
Member Blakely questioned the Charter 'lumping together the
departments of the City' Manager, City Attorney; City Clerk and
Mayor/City Council and their unclassified secretaries into one
statement and whether or 'not they can be combined into one blanket
statement.
Bob Campbell explained that the Mayor wants the right to hire and
fire both secretaries, but he did not see it as a problem.. He felt
that was not good governmental organization and that the second
�\ secretarial position should be classified. Ms. Boshell pointed out
there are mechanisms to . terminate an employee by documenting
Charter Review Commission Minutes
November 28, 1994 .
Page 2
employee performance deficiencies and, . therefore, keeping the
protection of the Civil Service system intact.
Member Prescott mentioned in the school district, a secretary to an
Associate Principal deals with sensitive material, and felt there
was a similarity between that position and, City staff, and could
understand the Charter designating , secretaries as unclassified
because of accountability.
y
Sharon Reid suggested we might want to simplify the language in the
Charter by stating "All staff in the Mayor and Council office shall
be in the Unclassified Service. "
Attorney Boogaard stated the reasons to have Civil Service are to
prevent political favoritism and allow the lower level of. staff to
keep government going.
Director of Personnel brought up an equity, factor in having the
second secretarial position be unclassified. Recruitment would be
more difficult when said position is being paid the same amount of
money as. other secretaries who have the protection of Civil Service
and the hiree may choose. to transfer to another department at the .
. same rate of pay to have more continuity of employment.
Bob Campbell pointed out that Mayor Nader was the only one .to. make
the request--it was not from the entire Council and he would like
to talk to Mayor-elect Horton to apprise her and defer any final ,
decision until a later meeting. He felt there was no rush because
the position is currently a classified filled position.
Representative from Board of Ethics:
Bob Campbell introduced Susan Herney of the Board of Ethics who was
present at today's meeting to - discuss Mayor Nader's proposal on
voluntary campaign expenditures which . was presented to. both
commissions.
Member Blakely questioned why a Charter amendment was necessary and
Attorney Boogaard explained it was so the Board of Ethics could set
the dollar limit and it would be given voter sanction.
The City's ordinance allows contributions only from individuals,
but the state law allows corporate contributions. Member Blakely
thought the solution might be to change the City law to match state
law although Attorney Boogaard pointed out the problem of giant
loopholes when corporate money gets into city elections., especially
at the .last minute.
Charter Review Commission Minutes
f November 28, 1994
Page 3
Discussion ensued among the members regarding the huge monitoring
burden involved with possible violations of the proposed ordinance;
constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech to contact voters;
more stringent reporting duties by IEC's and large corporate
expenditures at the last minute.
MS (Blakely/Reid) to send Tim Nader's proposal back to the City
Council to look at regulation of campaigns and to make changes in
the form of an ordinance if the Council feels it is necessary.
Motion passed 4-1 (Campbell voting "no") . - Chairman Campbell had
hoped it would be possible to work with the Board of Ethics on the
proposal and to make inquiries through Mayor-elect Horton to find
out how aware the rest of the Council is. Jack Blakely stated if
. Council desired, they could send- it back to the Charter Review
.Commission to work with the Board of Ethics.
Chairman -Campbell was requested to draft .a letter to the Council
setting forth the Commission's motion.
The Commission decided to have theirnext meeting on Monday,
December 19, 1994 at 4:.30 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 6: 15 p.m.
Lorraine Kraker, Secretary
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