HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 03-14 CCM Work Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL /ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
WORK SESSION
MARCH 14, 2005
CITY HALL — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council/Economic Development Authority met in Work Session and was
called to order by Mayor/President Myrna Kragness at 6:15 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor /President Myrna Kragness and Councilmembers /Commissioners Kathleen Carmody, Kay
Lasman, Diane Niesen, and Mary O'Connor. Also present were City Manager/Executive Director
Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager/Director of Operations Curt Boganey, Public Works
Director /City Engineer Todd Blomstrom, Community Development Director Brad Hoffman, and
City Clerk Sharon Knutson.
COUNCIL MEMBER NIESEN: FOLLOW -UP ON LAST YEAR'S (2003) AUDIT
Councilmember Niesen said she had read the materials provided by the City Manager regarding the
2003 audit and was satisfied that follow -up actions had been addressed.
COUNCILMEMBER NIESEN: DISCUSSION OF PAYROLL MEMO
Councilmember Niesen stated that she wanted to discuss the payroll issue because she is perplexed
that in 2003 she received paychecks twice a month and continued to receive the same pay in 2004
twice a month. She explained that she thought in 2004 it may have resulted because the Financial
Commission had reviewed Council pay, and Financial Commission Chair Donn Escher had shown a
Council compensation comparison survey with other cities. She reviewed the memorandum
provided in the packet from Director of Fiscal and Support Services Daniel Jordet regarding
correcting the 2004 compensation and the balance of 2005 compensation. She said that FICA was
taken out of her paycheck in 2003.
City Manager Michael McCauley explained that generally there are 26 pay periods per year;
however, in 2004 there were 27 pay periods, and this was not taken into account when the correction
was calculated for the Council compensation for the 2004 error in not implementing the 2004 rate
increase. He further explained that a Council Member would generally get a paycheck in January of
the year after service. He said as part of the change to avoid this, Council Members will be paid
twice a month and receive all of the annual compensation in the calendar in which they served. He
indicated he will check into the FICA issue.
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Councilmember Niesen said she is not satisfied with the payroll process and would like follow up.
She said she had talked with the auditor and asked if they could do a payroll sampling.
Mr. McCauley cautioned that the auditor works for the Council as a whole and the Council would
need to give direction to the auditor, not just one Council Member.
Mayor Kragness inquired if it would be helpful for the Director of Fiscal and Support Services to
review the issue since there is still some confusion.
Councilmember Niesen said that the auditor is on site and could do a quick payroll sampling that
costs no extra dollars.
Councilmember O'Connor inquired if the Council would need to take formal action during the
regular Council meeting. Mr. McCauley responded that the Council would need to delineate the
request and a resolution could be more specific.
Councilmember Niesen said she wants to add an expanded audit of payroll to the agenda as Item No.
l Of. Mr. McCauley said an expanded audit would need to be described.
MISCELLANEOUS
Councilmember Carmody raised the question of what the Housing Commission is working on and if
the Council needs to look at providing direction.
Mayor Kragness indicated that the joint meeting with the Commission Chairs is in one week and it
could be discussed at that meeting.
Councilmember Niesen said she would like the Housing Commission to look into the way
inspections are being done. She stated she would like the commission to investigate the issue of
rental property and licensing in the City.
Councilmember Carmody said with regard to inspections it may be crossing the line of employee job
performance and could get the Housing Commission in a bind.
Councilmember Lasman suggested the Housing Commission study the ordinance, but not the
inspector's work load.
Councilmember Carmody said the reason she brought this before the Council was that typically the
Council has given direction to the Housing Commission, but it may be that the Housing Commission
should take a break.
Councilmember Lasman discussed the bus hub and how citizens can utilize the service. She
suggested an article in the City Watch resident newsletter that would encourage use of the service
and provide information on where to obtain bus schedules.
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ADJOURNMENT
There was a motion by Councilmember /Commissioner Lasman, seconded by Councilmember/
Commissioner Carmody to adjourn the City Council/Economic Development Authority Work
Session at 6:40 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
I ww_Yft&� , C City Clerk Mayor/Presi nt
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