MONROE - Hiring an attorney as a city administrator became the focus of discussion Wednesday at a special meeting of the Monroe Common Council.
However, any action on the position will have to wait until City Clerk Carol Stamm gathers job descriptions for administrator/city attorney positions in other municipalities.
The council asked Stamm to collect the descriptions, which will then be reviewed by the council before proceeding with it's own job description.
Alderman Jan Lefevre said she had "concerns" with writing a job description that would fit an individual in mind, "as opposed to writing a description and finding a person to fill it."
"You greatly eliminate people because they don't have the qualifications," she said.
Ewald was in attendance to address the benefits and limitations of combining the duties of city administrator and city attorney.
Speaking without notes, Ewald told the council members that he has "not applied for a job ... I have a job," he said, smiling.
Ewald is a partner in the Voegeli, Ewald, Bartholf law offices, Monroe, and has served 21 years as the appointed city attorney.
Ewald's opening remarks included his "proudest accomplishment" of putting the city "back on the track" and having it function smoothly for 21 years. At the time of his appointment, the city was "in great turmoil," because the previous city attorney was too involved in city policy making, he said.
Ewald also admitted he has an interest in the combined position.
"I have to tell you, I am generally intrigued - not for what most people might think," he said. "I'm at a stage in my career where new challenges are interesting to me. I recognize there is an opportunity, for whomever steps in, to make a big difference for this city."
The position as city attorney had been a part-time position for about 17 years, but with the coming of large-scale retail development in the city about four years ago, it has become a challenge, Ewald said.
And Ewald said he is concerned about enhanced legal fees ahead for the city.
"It has caused me to reflect on that position," he said. "And it bothers me to know ... to have to bill the city and know how much that is. That bothers me."
Most questions and comments from council members leaned toward favoring the combined position, with reservations about how much money would actually be saved.
Alderman Keith Ingwell asked whether an attorney hired in the administrator position should have experience in order to deal with issues of finance, economic development, personnel and legality.
"Attorneys are no different than anybody else - it's the training that's different," Ewald said, in response. "Without prior city administrator work experience, they would have things to learn."
Some of the things to learn would be what any new person would have to learn when coming into a new place, he added.
Ewald said, if he were in the position, even knowing the city as well as he does, he would have to study items like the personnel manual and labor contracts.
"A lot would have to be learned, because a lot I don't directly touch," he said.
Alderman Dan Henke asked Ewald how much outside legal consultation would still be needed, to take care of items like Planned Unit Developments (PUDs).
"PUDs are intense and take a lot of time," Ewald said.
He said he could not promise a city administrator/attorney would be able do them, because of the time involved.
Ewald also explained prosecutions would be another attorney duty a city administrator should not do, because they would be "too disruptive" in the context of other administrative duties.
Prosecutions makes up about 40 percent of the general legal duties of the city attorney, he estimated.
The city administrator job should remain "flexible in concert with the Common Council," Ewald said.
Alderman Thurston Hanson asked how the city would be saving money if it still was paying a legal firm to do prosecutions. Hanson has taken the stance that the city budget deficit is a reason to not hire an administrator, or any other chief executive.
Merging the two city jobs at the executive level is where the city would see the savings, in legal fees and city staff time, Ewald said .
A city administrator who is "really sharp" would be able to recognize a legal issue "early enough" to prevent it from becoming a backed up situation, he said. Catching legal situations early would also save the staff "stress and time," he said.
However, any action on the position will have to wait until City Clerk Carol Stamm gathers job descriptions for administrator/city attorney positions in other municipalities.
The council asked Stamm to collect the descriptions, which will then be reviewed by the council before proceeding with it's own job description.
Alderman Jan Lefevre said she had "concerns" with writing a job description that would fit an individual in mind, "as opposed to writing a description and finding a person to fill it."
"You greatly eliminate people because they don't have the qualifications," she said.
Ewald was in attendance to address the benefits and limitations of combining the duties of city administrator and city attorney.
Speaking without notes, Ewald told the council members that he has "not applied for a job ... I have a job," he said, smiling.
Ewald is a partner in the Voegeli, Ewald, Bartholf law offices, Monroe, and has served 21 years as the appointed city attorney.
Ewald's opening remarks included his "proudest accomplishment" of putting the city "back on the track" and having it function smoothly for 21 years. At the time of his appointment, the city was "in great turmoil," because the previous city attorney was too involved in city policy making, he said.
Ewald also admitted he has an interest in the combined position.
"I have to tell you, I am generally intrigued - not for what most people might think," he said. "I'm at a stage in my career where new challenges are interesting to me. I recognize there is an opportunity, for whomever steps in, to make a big difference for this city."
The position as city attorney had been a part-time position for about 17 years, but with the coming of large-scale retail development in the city about four years ago, it has become a challenge, Ewald said.
And Ewald said he is concerned about enhanced legal fees ahead for the city.
"It has caused me to reflect on that position," he said. "And it bothers me to know ... to have to bill the city and know how much that is. That bothers me."
Most questions and comments from council members leaned toward favoring the combined position, with reservations about how much money would actually be saved.
Alderman Keith Ingwell asked whether an attorney hired in the administrator position should have experience in order to deal with issues of finance, economic development, personnel and legality.
"Attorneys are no different than anybody else - it's the training that's different," Ewald said, in response. "Without prior city administrator work experience, they would have things to learn."
Some of the things to learn would be what any new person would have to learn when coming into a new place, he added.
Ewald said, if he were in the position, even knowing the city as well as he does, he would have to study items like the personnel manual and labor contracts.
"A lot would have to be learned, because a lot I don't directly touch," he said.
Alderman Dan Henke asked Ewald how much outside legal consultation would still be needed, to take care of items like Planned Unit Developments (PUDs).
"PUDs are intense and take a lot of time," Ewald said.
He said he could not promise a city administrator/attorney would be able do them, because of the time involved.
Ewald also explained prosecutions would be another attorney duty a city administrator should not do, because they would be "too disruptive" in the context of other administrative duties.
Prosecutions makes up about 40 percent of the general legal duties of the city attorney, he estimated.
The city administrator job should remain "flexible in concert with the Common Council," Ewald said.
Alderman Thurston Hanson asked how the city would be saving money if it still was paying a legal firm to do prosecutions. Hanson has taken the stance that the city budget deficit is a reason to not hire an administrator, or any other chief executive.
Merging the two city jobs at the executive level is where the city would see the savings, in legal fees and city staff time, Ewald said .
A city administrator who is "really sharp" would be able to recognize a legal issue "early enough" to prevent it from becoming a backed up situation, he said. Catching legal situations early would also save the staff "stress and time," he said.