2002-12-19 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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So I also find it interesting that he can state unequivocally that his "impression" is that I do not supervise my staff. As an example of that, he cites a "botched" letter informing residents of Pheasant Marsh that as interested property owners, they are responsible for a $30,000 assessment to their property should their builder default on the payment. When this issue was discussed at a recent Council meeting, the City Attorney informed the Council that by law, the City Clerk is required to advise these interested property owners of a possible financial liability. I don't see how that was a botched letter. The Mayor goes on to say, that what's even worse, is that the City Clerk is not "courteous or helpful to the valid questions and concerns of residents." Again, my question is, how does he know, if staff is rude when he is a hands-off mayor? I believe he is basing this assessment on one individual (out of 23 letters that were sent to Pheasant Marsh residents) that stood before Council to complain about having to be responsible for this $30,000 special assessment. This individual informed Council that staff had been rude and unwilling to assist her with her questions and concerns. The reality of the situation was that the City Clerk went out of her way to assist this resident. She spend most of that afternoon making several telephone calls to get more information for the resident and obtaining phone numbers that were requested by the resident. The City Clerk also took subsequent calls from that resident, further assisting her with additional questions or concerns. I and two other staff members witnessed the Clerk's efforts to assist this resident. The following review looks at a few items that always reappear as examples of my inability to do my job. OSA's TIF Report - When I started employment with the City, the Staff had just completed an audit at the insistence of the Office of the State Auditor (OSA). In working with the City Attorney, the financial consultants, staff, the auditor and my contacts with Anoka County, we were able to compile a set of responses and submit them to the OSA by their deadline. The OSA, upon review of the City's responses, withdrew several of their citations and submitted a rebuttal to our responses for the remaining citations to Anoka County. The Assistant County Attorney and his staff met with the aforementioned City representatives, me included. While this issue remains undetermined, it is not because I failed to do my job in this situation or that I performed this task unsatisfactorily. Nor am I suggesting that the County has failed to do their job in resolving the issue; they are involved with other issues, including orienting newly elected county commissioners and our situation is simply not at the top of their to-do list. Computers - My interpretation of the Council's motion was to develop specifications and work with those interested councilmembers to put together a computer purchase plan. As I have been continuously reminded by both Mayor Swedberg and Councilmember Nelson, this interpretation is not in agreement with the Mayor's interpretation of the same motion or what he apparently wanted. The Mayor suggested that I did not express my objections with the situation in a timely manner. Obviously a timely objection is difficult when I am not informed