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06-20-1980 - Special .' Q r < , I l "- . 0 C,,)' " CITY OF EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING June 20, 1980 Vice-Mayor Rotundo called the Special Meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. in the Edgewater Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Robert H. Christy Councilman Louis J. Rotundo Councilman David C. Ledbetter Councilman James H. Cameron Councilman Neil J. Asting City Attorney Judson Woods City Clerk Joseph Herget Police.Chief Earl Baugh Absent Present Absent Present Present Present Present Present Vice-Mayor said that the meeting had been called for the purpose of discussing the position of City Manager. Councilman Asting said that he had two letterspertai.ri-ing to this matter. He would like to have these letters read. The lett~rs were read into the record. One letter from Mr. Wroniak praised the work of the City Clerk J. G. Herget. The other letter from Mrs. Siciliano stated,lthat there was a real need for a City Manager and that Mr. Herget would make an excellent City Manager. Councilman Asting asked the City Attorney to read the section from the City Chater that authorizes the City Council to appoint a City Manager and also the duties of the City Manager. Mr. Woods read from Section 9a of the Charter concerning the appointment of a City Manager and also Sections 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, and 2-5 of the Municipal Code which concerns the appointment, com- pensation, removal and powers and duties of the City Manager. Councilman Cameron made a motion that the Council appoint Joe Herget as the City Manager and raise his salary from $13,500 to $16,000 to offset his additional responsibilities. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Councilman Cameron said that he has been observing Joe Herget for the past eleven months since he was employed by the City and he feels that he has done an excellent job and he would be an excellent choice for this job. Councilman Asting said that he concurred with Mr. Cameron. He believes that Mr. Herget has the ability to perform the job of City Manager for Edgewater. Vice-Mayor Rotundo said that he also felt that Mr. Herget had done an excellent job as City Clerk and that he would continue to do the same good work as City Manager. Mr. Frank Opal asked who had called the Special Meeting? Vice~Mayor Rotundo said that Councilman Asting had called the meeting. Councilman Asting is the Acting Mayor. Councilman Asting asked Mr. Woods if, as Acting Mayor, he had the authority to call a Special Meeting? ~ o o Mr. Woods said that was the judge's decision. Mr. Ken Millard told the Council that he had no objections to Mr. Herget being appointed City Manager but he felt that it would be a good idea if they could hold a public hearing to discuss this change in the city government. The speed with which the Council plans to appoint a City Manager prevents the general public from knowing about it. He also suggested that the Council should have interviewed other applicants for the position. Councilman Asting said that the subject of a City Manager was discussed at a Council Workshop. This Workshop was attended by the press and it was announced in the papers that a Special Meeting would be called for the purpose of appointing a City Manager. Councilman Cameron said that he had observed a Councilman outside of City Hall yesterday. He felt that if this Councilman was interested in City business he would have attended this Special Meeting to vote on this matter. Mr. Hardin spoke to the Council about the big change in the city government that this appointment would make. He felt that there should be more than two elected members and one appointed member on the Council to make this decision. The public had voted down the hiring of a City Manager. He asked the Council if this would be a temporary or permanent appointment? Councilman Asting said that this would be a permanent appoint- ment. It has become necessary, due to recent events, to make sure that the City business is carried on even if certain Council members are absent. We have to have someone who is capable of administrating the two City departments who have no active.lco~ ordinators at this time. The position of City Manager is provided for in the City Charter. Mr. Millard asked the Council when Mr. Herget would take over as City Manager, if the Council appoints him to this position? Vice-Mayor Rotundo said that he would take over the position immediately. Councilman Asting said that he would also like to request that the City Attorney prepare the proper resolution appointing the City Manager. Mr. Frank Opal told the Council that they had had one City Manager who was fired and he tore the City apart. Councilman Asting said that he did not think someone else1s action was reason to say that Mr. Herget would not do a good job. Mr. Herget told the audience that he had no intentions of trying to tear the City apart. If he can do the job as City Clerk that would be fine with him. If he can perform the job of City Manager he would do so to the best of his ability. If he could not do a good job, he would not take the position. Councilman Cameron said that they had a motion on the floor and they should vote on it. 2 r . o Q " Upon roll call the motion to appoint Joe Herget as City Manager CARRIED 3-0. Councilman Cameron made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned. Minutes submitted by: Nancy Blazi ~layor cnc<vWf a~ Co'tnlcilman I' . ~~ ~ rz~'k_ 00uncilman ATTEST: ~/J~ ' ty Cle k . ./ A P PRO V E D IH I S I 1.1 .,. 1-1 DAY 0 F J U L Y, 1 9 8 0-. 3 ~ ~ ~ ~" jl~