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<br />April 17, 1989 Council Minutes, Page Two
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<br />Mayor Sather noted that the relationship with the former administrator had
<br />been terminated and her presence at City Hall is inappropriate. She
<br />should have no further business with the budget unless it is on a contract
<br />basis,
<br />
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<br />
<br />Vote on the motion for a three day unpaid suspension: Ayes: 3, Nays: 1,
<br />Hansen,
<br />
<br />MEDICAL
<br />LEAVE
<br />
<br />Council acknowledged receipt of several memorandum and letters
<br />relative to a requested medical leave of absence for former
<br />Public Works employee Robert Wayne Brunette, Administrator
<br />Berger noted that Mr. Brunette had requested a six month medical leave of
<br />absence, but that PERA had indicated that Mr, Brunette had a "total and
<br />permanent disability", Councilmember Hansen noted this is quite a serious
<br />condition. Mrs, Eileen Brunette, wife of the employee, was present for
<br />the discussion and noted that her husband had a heart attack about 15
<br />years ago, She expressed her concern about short term disability and
<br />insurance benefits, It was her impression that if the City hired a
<br />replacement for Mr, Brunette, that employee would be on probation for six
<br />months and could be dismissed during the probationary time without cause,
<br />Administrator Berger noted that according to PERA, Mr, Brunette was
<br />totally disabled and could receive benefits from them. Mrs. Brunette
<br />noted that she had checked with the insurance company and they would
<br />coordinate benefits for both short term disability and long term benefits.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Councilmember Mahowald felt the Council should act on the Administrator's
<br />recommendation, but work with the Brunette"s also, Mayor Sather pointed
<br />out that there would be no real advantage monetarily for short term versus
<br />PERA. Councilmember Mahowald said he could not support post-dating Mr,
<br />Brunette's termination date by six months to allow him to collect on the
<br />short-term disability insurance,
<br />
<br />After discussion, Councilmember Malone moved, seconded by Councilmember
<br />Hansen, to deny the requested six months medical leave of absence, and to
<br />accept Mr, Brunette's resignation effective April 17, 1989, in light of
<br />the apparent long term disability, Voting on motion: Ayes: 4, Nays: 0,
<br />
<br />Mrs, Brunette noted that they
<br />but not the health insurance.
<br />return the City Hall key,
<br />
<br />would like to continue the life insurance,
<br />She will stop in the office on April 18 to
<br />
<br />Councilmember Malone moved, seconded by Councilmember Hansen to authorize
<br />the City Administrator to advertise for a maintenance worker and to
<br />release the severance pay check to Mr, Brunette, Voting: Ayes: 4,
<br />Nays: 0,
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<br />CITY ATTORNEY
<br />RFP'S
<br />
<br />Administrator Berger reviewed his memo of April 13, noting
<br />that his analysis of attorney RFP's was very subjective,
<br />Mayor Sather stated he would like to receive Council's
<br />this and perhaps they could eliminate interviewing the
<br />He opened the meeting for discussion on attorney RFP's.
<br />
<br />thoughts on
<br />prospects,
<br />
<br />Councilmember Hansen noted that she had not received an RFP from Kalina
<br />and Wills. Administrator Berger noted that this had arrived late and was
<br />not included in their packet, but that he would be sure to include their
<br />RFP in their Council packets this week. Hansen noted that LeFevere's RFP
<br />went into her "no" pile, but she wasn't sure why, Councilmember Mahowald
<br />said he was not impressed with LeFevere's proposal either, Mahowald
<br />stated he felt this was too important an issue to not conduct interviews
<br />on, He also felt the Grannis law firm merited consideration, and also,
<br />that perhaps the Council could sit down with Jerry Filla to try to work
<br />out any potential conflicts, Mahowald felt that there could be a possible
<br />conflict with Fritz Knaak, since he is a State Senator, He would be
<br />uncomfortable with this situation and besides, Mr, Knaak may be
<br />unavailable during a legislative session.
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<br />After further discussion, it was the Council concensus to invite six law
<br />firms: Rauenhorst, Carlson & Knaak; Kalina & Wills; Peterson, Franke &
<br />Riach; Pophaim, Haik, Schnobrich: LeFevere, Lefler, Kennedy, etc.; and
<br />Grannis and Grannis to the May work session at which time interviews would
<br />be conducted, with a 5-7 minute presentation and a question and answer
<br />session after.
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