ITEM 3.2D SCC 4.19.2017 MinutesITEM 3.21)
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OTSEGO CITY HALL
APRIL 19, 2017
7:00 PM
Mayor Stockamp called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Jessica Stockamp; Councilmembers: Vern Heidner, Corey Tanner, Tom
Darkenwald and Jason Warehime. Staff: Adam Flaherty, Interim City Administrator/Finance
Director; Andy MacArthur, City Attorney; and Tami Loff, City Clerk.
1. City Administrator Search.
At the April 10, 2017 meeting the City Council motioned to have Mayor Stockamp, CM
Darkenwald, City Attorney MacArthur, Richard Fursman and Adam Flaherty meet to negotiate
the terms of an employment agreement.
City Attorney MacArthur reviewed the drafted agreement in detail.
CM Darkenwald discussed the concept of the combined roles of the City Administrator and
Finance Director and the savings in wages and benefits the City would have by doing so.
CM Warehime discussed his concerns with combining the roles of two very significant positions
within the City. CM Warehime noted that he liked the verbiage in the agreement outlining the
review process and that it allows for ongoing evaluation of the dual role assignment and
whether it is the best fit for the City. CM Warehime indicated he would have liked this idea to
be discussed more thoroughly, but is comfortable with the person the Council is hiring to do
both roles.
Further discussion on the dual role concept ensued, with Mayor Stockamp and CM Heidner
commenting that the dual role was not what the City Council had started the process looking
for, but given the opportunity in front of the City Council at this point, they are comfortable
moving forward. Further discussion focused on the plan to not combine the job descriptions,
rather leaving them separate so that in the future, the framework is there should the City need
to re-examine the dual role concept. CM Darkenwald commented that having someone able and
willing to handle both positions is a unique opportunity for the City.
CM Warehime commented on the idea that having two separate positions allows for ideas to be
bounced from one person to the next ultimately providing a multi -faceted approach to things.
Interim City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty commented on the team concept that
currently exists at City Hall and that staff already work as a team and this concept takes place
with that team approach. He mentioned that everyone is involved on projects from the start
and that no-one person ever really takes anything from start -to -finish without input from other
staff.
CM Warehime commented on delegation and whether certain aspects of each job description
will be overlooked and fall between the cracks. Interim City Administrator/Finance Director
Flaherty commented that everyone at Otsego does a great job, that a certain amount of
delegation is healthy, and that he was confident in everyone to perform any delegated duties.
He further commented that his priorities and direction come from the Council, and at a
minimum will be re-examined during the review process, but even more often as certain things
arise in the City as things are constantly changing as projects progress.
CM Heidner motioned to approve the contract with Adam Flaherty for City
Administrator/ Finance Director as presented. Seconded by CM Warehime. All in
favor. Motion carried.
CIA Warehime stated for the record he is supportive of Adam Flaherty just not supportive on
how we got to the dual role position.
2. Adjourn.
CM Darkenwald motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Warehime. All in favor.
Adjourned at 7:57 PM.
Mayor Jessica Stockamp
ATTEST:
Tami Loff, City Clerk