CCP 01-09-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 12,2005 5 . Mayor Aplikowski - Stated she too was extremely disappointed with the alleged embezzlement that occurred and has been assured by staff that additional checks and balances have now been put into place. However, she noted that creative people could still get around checks and balances. Councilmember Holden - Thanked staff, particularly Mr. Siddiqui, for his hard work and efforts regarding the theft investigation. Councilmember Larson - Stated he wanted the City to respond quickly and send a letter out as soon as possible to the residents. He requested staff put together a draft letter to be reviewed by Council at their next work session. Councilmcmber Grant - Stated he wanted to communicate with the residents also, but urged caution and noted this matter was still pending litigation and while they might want to make public statements, they needed to do that in the context that this was under litigation and under the advice oflegal counsel. Councilmcmber Larson - Stated this was an opportunity to communicate with the residents and now that everything was public he believed they needed to inform the residents, while still being careful as suggested by Councilmember Grant. He stated it was not a good situation to have . residents relying on media reports that did not tell the whole story. Mayor Aplikowski - Stated staff could put a draft letter together, but she suggested staff bring facts and figures to the next work session for Council discussion instead of a draft letter. She noted she had not been asked by any residents about the specifics about this. Councilmemher Holden - Stated she agreed and she wanted staff to have the opportunity to check with legal counsel first about this proposed draft letter. Councilmember Larson - Stated the items he believed were important to be put in the letter did not relate to the specifics of the case, but it related to the fact that they conducted an audit every year and the audit did not catch the theft, and there were checks and balances in place now, etc. He stated he did not want the charges filed against the former employee addressed in this letter. Ms. Wolfe - Stated she believed staff could have a draft letter for the work session, but the letter would not be done by the time the Council packets went out. Mayor Aplikowski _ Stated they needed more time to think about this and while they would communicate with the residents, it was a matter of when this communication would go out. She stated she wauted to discuss this further at the work session. .