MONROE - Out of six applications for the vacant city administrator position, members of the Salary & Personnel Committee chose what they considered the top three candidates in a closed session meeting Wednesday.
Committee members refused to reveal the names of the candidates until City Clerk Carol Stamm contacted the candidates to verify they are still interested in the position.
The applicants have until Oct. 12 to decide.
Committee Chairman Mark Coplien said the names of the candidates should be released by Monday and a timeline then set for the interview process.
Two of the applicants are from Wisconsin and one is from Minnesota.
The City Finance & Taxation Committee will meet Oct. 12 to consider the financial implications the position will have on the budget.
Coplien said because the new administrator position includes some legal duties, some funds once used for legal costs will go toward the administrator position.
A preliminary draft of the 2010 budget released Sept. 30 showed a tentative cut in legal costs of about $54,000 from last year's budget of about $114,300. The projected legal expenses for 2009 is $110,000.
Coplien said the $54,000 from the legal fund will be put in the administrator account, which is being set up with about $102,700. The administrator account includes salary, benefits and office expenses.
The Finance & Taxation Committee is left with about $46,700 to find in the 2010 budget to fund the position.
The city has been without an administrator since May 2008, following the exit of Mark Vahlsing after a harassment suit was filed against the city.
On Aug. 18, 2009, the Monroe Common Council finalized the new job description for the city administrator to include legal duties and authorized advertising for the position.
At that time, Coplien motioned to approve the description and a salary of $76,000 to $90,000 with benefits. Dan Henke seconded the motion, which passed on a 7-2-1 vote. Jan Lefevre and Thurston Hanson voted against; Neal Hunter abstained.
Applicants need a "juris doctor degree from an accredited law school, five years legal experience with three in municipal law, and (be) a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association."
A degree in public administration or related field and five years experience in municipal administration is no longer needed.
The administrator would serve under the Common Council.
The city administrator will be required to write policies, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements, and other legal documents, as well as provide litigation, prosecution and other legal services for city matters.
Human Resources duties, including overseeing all personnel matters, remains in the job description.
Providing prosecution duties for the police department will not be part of the administrator duties, and will remain under legal costs.
Traffic and juvenile prosecution requires over 30 hours and costs about $3,000 to $5,000 per month, according to city accountant Suzie Shaw.
Coplien estimated the new position would save the city $350,000 to $700,000 over the next five years.
Committee members refused to reveal the names of the candidates until City Clerk Carol Stamm contacted the candidates to verify they are still interested in the position.
The applicants have until Oct. 12 to decide.
Committee Chairman Mark Coplien said the names of the candidates should be released by Monday and a timeline then set for the interview process.
Two of the applicants are from Wisconsin and one is from Minnesota.
The City Finance & Taxation Committee will meet Oct. 12 to consider the financial implications the position will have on the budget.
Coplien said because the new administrator position includes some legal duties, some funds once used for legal costs will go toward the administrator position.
A preliminary draft of the 2010 budget released Sept. 30 showed a tentative cut in legal costs of about $54,000 from last year's budget of about $114,300. The projected legal expenses for 2009 is $110,000.
Coplien said the $54,000 from the legal fund will be put in the administrator account, which is being set up with about $102,700. The administrator account includes salary, benefits and office expenses.
The Finance & Taxation Committee is left with about $46,700 to find in the 2010 budget to fund the position.
The city has been without an administrator since May 2008, following the exit of Mark Vahlsing after a harassment suit was filed against the city.
On Aug. 18, 2009, the Monroe Common Council finalized the new job description for the city administrator to include legal duties and authorized advertising for the position.
At that time, Coplien motioned to approve the description and a salary of $76,000 to $90,000 with benefits. Dan Henke seconded the motion, which passed on a 7-2-1 vote. Jan Lefevre and Thurston Hanson voted against; Neal Hunter abstained.
Applicants need a "juris doctor degree from an accredited law school, five years legal experience with three in municipal law, and (be) a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association."
A degree in public administration or related field and five years experience in municipal administration is no longer needed.
The administrator would serve under the Common Council.
The city administrator will be required to write policies, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements, and other legal documents, as well as provide litigation, prosecution and other legal services for city matters.
Human Resources duties, including overseeing all personnel matters, remains in the job description.
Providing prosecution duties for the police department will not be part of the administrator duties, and will remain under legal costs.
Traffic and juvenile prosecution requires over 30 hours and costs about $3,000 to $5,000 per month, according to city accountant Suzie Shaw.
Coplien estimated the new position would save the city $350,000 to $700,000 over the next five years.