The City Council and Mayor Bookmeyer will meet Tuesday night for a communication session at 4 PM at City Hall and includes another touchy subject: discussion of removing human resources duties from City Attorney Tom Meyer.|
The City Council and Mayor Bookmeyer will meet Tuesday night for a communication session at 4 PM at City Hall.
Of particular interest on the agenda is a discussion of removing human resources duties from City Attorney Tom Meyer.
Some Council members have broached the subject adding a human resources manager, leaving Meyer to handle only city legal business. Concerns of Council include wage costs, workload, and possible conflicts of interest that could arise in the dual role of City Attorney and handling human resources duties.
Travis Hickey added this item to the agenda for discussion Tuesday night, but the chatter started days earlier.
In a memo dated February, 18th, Don Nelson says he will not support the move, due to Meyer’s “accomplishments in the Human Resources for he past four years” as well as financial reasons, a “savings of the taxpayer dollars.”
Councilman Jeff Marsters says he agrees with Nelson on the issue, and told NorthIowaToday.com “I am in total agreement in NOT supporting removal of Mr. Meyer as Human Resources manager.” Marsters went on to say that discussing the move “is micro managing and inappropriate use of council authority. I will not support any action of this type without the request and direction of the City Administrator.”
Hickey then clarified the issue, saying “This is a idea to incorporate human rights with human resources because of a conflict of interest that our city employees have with the position of having our city attorney also our human resource manager. Also we could possibly save the taxpayers some money by not then not having to hire a human resource assistant and incorporate that position in with the staff that we already have with human rights. Pure and simple.”
Other items on the agenda include:
– Council member Tornquist requesting discussion regarding the possibility of the City assuming responsibility for all damaged mailboxes and a discussion on the Laborer’s Home Development Corporation
– Council member Weaver requesting discussion of vendors in East Park, retaliation, rule changes
– Council member Hickey requesting discussion on forfeiture funds following prosecution of court cases (Police Department)|
