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<br />Centerville City Council <br />Meeting Minutes <br />February 26, 2003 . <br /> <br />City Attorney Hoeft commented that this point of view was originally started with <br />political grandstanding by the former State Auditor. He then said that the thing he was <br />disappointed in is that he, as the City's legal counsel, never received a telephone call or <br />voicemail concerning the legal aspect of the employee dinner. <br /> <br />Mayor Sweeney indicated he was confronted by a fellow firefighter last night and that is <br />why it is being discussed. <br /> <br />City Attorney Hoeft commented that he would have thought it would be prudent for the <br />newspaper to contact him. He then said that the information from Mr. Grundhoeffer at <br />the League of Minnesota Cities was accurate, given short shrift. He further clarified that <br />the gentlemen from the State Auditor's office indicates that there is no statute that <br />authorizes the City to spend money for an employee appreciation dinner and he disagrees <br />with that as there is a statute that authorizes the Council to spend money that is for a <br />public purpose. <br /> <br />City Attorney Hoeft commented that there has been a lot of talk about wanting cities to <br />operate more as private businesses because cities have not been accoUntable for the <br />money they receive and spend, so cities have attempted to do that to be more accountable <br />but they do not seem to want to carry out some of the things, such as employee <br />appreciation, recognition service, longevity awards, and team building activities and for <br />someone to say that these types of activities do not benefit the City as a whole, <br />demonstrates a lack of understanding of team concepts. He then said that the group he <br />works with does things together personally, and it makes their unit of the firm more <br />efficient and, in turn, makes the firm more profitable. He further commented that people <br />who know enough about each other personally know how to get along well and work <br />well together and get along better and are, as a result, more efficient <br /> <br />City Attorney Hoeft indicated that the State Auditor has no legal authority to say that the <br />employee dinner is inappropriate or illegal. He then said that, if the Auditor's office feels <br />that the spending is inappropriate, then they are out touch with the function of cities and <br />that was. recently demonstrated with the recent report on LGA showing a complete <br />misunderstanding of municipalities. <br /> <br />City Attorney Hoeft indicated that the State Auditor has no legal authority to render an <br />opinion as to whether something is or is not legal. The State Auditor has the authority to <br />render an opinion as to whether it is an appropriate expenditure and, if they feel it is not, <br />refer the matter to the County Attorney for consideration and possible charges. <br /> <br />City Attorney Hoeft indicated that the League of Minnesota Cities has said that the safe <br />thing would be not to do it because then the question would never be raised but, if the <br />Council, as a body, makes the determination that the expenditure is for a public purpose, <br />it is appropriate. The State Auditor has no authority over that and can only refer the <br />matter to the County Attorney for charging out as a crime. He then said that there has <br /> <br />Page 18 of20 <br />