1983-11-29 Council minutesPage No. 1927
November 29, 1983
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Adjourned Meeting
Held Tuesday, November 29, 1983
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the adjourned meeting of the City Council,
City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 o'clock P.M. at the City Hall, 750 South
Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order: at 7:30 P.M. The following members were
present: Mayor Lockwood, Councilmembers Hartmann, Losleben, Mertensotto and Witt.
CAPITAL Administrator Johnson gave a brief presentation on the preliminary .
IMPROVEMENT Capital Improvement Program proposed for 1984, , through anticipated
PROGRAM 1988 needs.
Fire Chief Noack reviewed the proposed Fire Department program.
Equipment needs for 1984 proposed needs, including air pac
modification, purchase of 25 additional pairs of bunker pants, a
new 110/220 volt generator and a portable, floating pump. He
also reviewed a proposed replacement/maintenance schedule for
hoses and_nozzles.
Chief Noack advised the Council on the inadequacies of the existing
pager.equipment, and indicated that the $12,000 proposed for 1984
is intended for replacement of the existing communication devices.
Both he and Police Chief Delmont explained the deficiencies of
the overall City communications system. Several members of the
Council expressed their reluctance to consider acquisition of
communication devices for the Fire,Department without benefit of
a comprehensive study of communications needs.
Chief Noack also reviewed anticipated need in 1984 for installation
of Opticom at TH 110 and Lexington Avenue, and a new Chief's
wagon, and projected needs in 1985 for a ladder truck in 1986 for a
grass rig and in 1988 for a new pumper.
With regard to the Opticom proposal, Councilman Mertensotto wonder-
ed what justification there would be for Opticom at the proposed
intersection. Councilman Losleben felt that TH 110/135-E should
be considered rather than at TH 110 and Lexington.
With regard to the ladder truck proposal, Councilman Mertensotto
felt that contracted use of such equipment from another community
would be more appropriate, since such a vehicle is needed on a very
limited basis. He pointed out that the $350,000 cost, if financed
with equipment certificates, would be payable over only a five
year period, costing the community $70,000 per year.
After considerable discussiom it was the general concensus that
the Fire Department CIP is appripriate but that pager replacement
and Opticom are to be optional: a study on city-wide communication
should be prepared before pager replacement and opticom at TH 110/35E
PERSONNEL
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November 29, 1983
should be included in the CIP with determination on installation
of either or both of the opticom devices to be made by the Council
in 1984.
Administrator Johnson updated thc! Council on the negotiations
for a new lease for the City offices and police offices.
Police Chief Delmont reviewed the proposed Police Department CIP,
particularly with regard to purchase of squad cars outside of the
joint purchasing arrangement used for the past several years.
Public Works Director Danielson reviewed the proposed Public Works
Department CIP.
Administrator-Designee Frazell presented, reviewed and explained
for the Council a comprehensive compensation plan for non-union
employees. The document as presented included several parts: a
proposed organization chart; a grade and step pay matrix, an
internal comparability position evaluation system, detailed analyses
of all non-union positions, individual position descriptions, and
a summary of the financial impact of the salary recommendations.
There was considerable Council discussion over the proposed organ-
ization chart, particularly with regard to the Police and Fire
Departments, and to the several parts of the proposed plan.
Councilman Mertensotto complimented Mr. Frazell on the document
but strongly felt that a classification and compensation plan
should be prepared externally, by a private consulting firm. He
stated that adoption of a plan would be a major policy step and
felt that external preparation of a study would provide a more
appropriate basis for a change in policy.
Councilmen Mertensotto and Losleben both expressed dissatisfaction
with the Stanton Survey and did not believe that Stanton Survey
comparision should be considered. Councilman Hartmann stated that
his only concern with using Stanton Survey information was whether
the internal job descriptions match those in the Survey and whether
the City positions are properly classified. Mayor Lockwood asked
how salary costs, if the schedule were adopted, would compare to other
communities on a per capita cost basis.
There was also considerable discussion over whether the salary
schedule, if adopted, should be made retroactive to July 1st as
were five adjustments adopted in October.
Mayor Lockwood stated that he will vote against retroactivity.
Councilman Mertensotto indicated that he will vote against adoption
of the plan. It was the concensus of the Council that the
cafeteria plan for insurance contribution, described in the Admin-
istrator-Designee's memo should be adopted and that department heads
should be evaluated on a merit rather than longevity basis.
Administrator-Designee Frazell was directed to prepare a finalized
plan for inclusion in the December 20th agenda.
ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, Council-
Page No. 1929
November 29, 1983
man Hartmann moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 11:15 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
Robert G. Lockwood
Mayor
K thleen M. Swanson
ity Clerk