MONROE - Whether the City of Monroe can find money to hire an administrator this year or next, Alderman Mark Coplien told council members Tuesday he wanted "to get the thoughts out" and "start the education process to get things started."
The Monroe City Council started the discussion regarding hiring a city administrator and lengthening terms for mayor and aldermen after Coplien announced the ideas at a council meeting Dec. 6.
"The intent to bring this back tonight was not to jump right off the ship and get going," he said.
Coplien wants any changes in the job description for an administrator "and the way we want to proceed" to be in place, so when funds are available the council can act.
Much of Tuesday's discussion focused on finding money to pay for the position.
Coplien asked city Treasurer Cathy Maurer what she had found in the 2009 budget that could be used to pay a city administrator. Maurer told aldermen they would need "quite a bit of money," but "in reality, an administrator would not be in place for a few months," perhaps a half year.
Maurer suggested the council could be creative in its hiring contract, particularly for 2009. For instance, to offset fringe costs, extra vacations days could be offered to replace insurance benefits.
From the 2009 budget, Maurer told Council about $87,000 could be gleaned from a few budget items: Contingency fund, $30,000; Cheese Days $22,200; Community Development, $10,000; Marketing, $18,000; Personnel negotiations attorney fees, $10,000.
Alderman Dan Henke said he would like to see the 2007 audit completed before the council considers trying "to squeak money out" of the 2009 budget.
"We worked many nights keeping contingency on the budget," he said of budget preparations last fall. "We've gone over this and over this."
Henke suggested two steps: First to create an administrator job description, and second for the audit to be completed.
"I want to know where we're at now (for available funds)" he said.
The city has been without a city administrator since the first person to hold the position, Mark Vahlsing, had his employment ended by the council in May 2007.
Alderman Keith Ingwell called for going "cold turkey" for a while, in lieu of toppling a contingency.
"What if, what if, what if?" he said. "We can't just pull money out. I'm all for replacing the administrator. But it'll come when we can budget it. Unless anyone is interested in a referendum? Personally, I don't think it will swing."
"The only thing an audit will show is how much surplus we have to stick in," Mayor Ron Marsh said.
"What I find puzzling, is that if we had had an administrator on board last year, where would we have found the money to pay him?" Alderman Paul Hannes asked.
Mayor Marsh said one of two things, or both, would have happened.
"There would have been almost no (funds set aside for) capital improvements in any department, and we were at the threshold of laying off people," he said.
"A good administrator may in the long run save us money, too," Hannes said. "There isn't anyone on the council who is qualified to run a city. You need a professional individual for that job."
"The city needs an administrator and I would like to see one by September," Hannes said after the meeting.
Hannes said the September time frame would allow a new administrator to become familiar with and be able to start the new year with knowledge of the 2010 budget. He also said he thought the city could hire a person to finish out the year for about $40,000.
Alderman Charles Schuringa asked about the remaining funds after the past administrator's contract had been fulfilled. Those funds are reallocated to other expenses at the end of the year, with council's approval, the mayor said.
Alderman Thurston Hanson expressed support of the mayor's idea of hiring a human resources person for between $30,000 and $50,000 and having a full-time mayor for four years.
The plan would save the city money and add stability, he said.
Hanson also pointed out that some cities pay between $1,500 and $2,000 a month for a full-time mayor.
He did not like $100,000 a year pay for a city administrator, which is what the city was paying its past administrator, including benefits.
""We need someone there, but not at $100,000 a year. That's where I objected, was the money we paid out," Hanson said
"With a mayor with real power, instead of quasi-power, department heads would know who to go to," he said.
"Let the people decide who should be mayor," Hanson said.
The Monroe City Council started the discussion regarding hiring a city administrator and lengthening terms for mayor and aldermen after Coplien announced the ideas at a council meeting Dec. 6.
"The intent to bring this back tonight was not to jump right off the ship and get going," he said.
Coplien wants any changes in the job description for an administrator "and the way we want to proceed" to be in place, so when funds are available the council can act.
Much of Tuesday's discussion focused on finding money to pay for the position.
Coplien asked city Treasurer Cathy Maurer what she had found in the 2009 budget that could be used to pay a city administrator. Maurer told aldermen they would need "quite a bit of money," but "in reality, an administrator would not be in place for a few months," perhaps a half year.
Maurer suggested the council could be creative in its hiring contract, particularly for 2009. For instance, to offset fringe costs, extra vacations days could be offered to replace insurance benefits.
From the 2009 budget, Maurer told Council about $87,000 could be gleaned from a few budget items: Contingency fund, $30,000; Cheese Days $22,200; Community Development, $10,000; Marketing, $18,000; Personnel negotiations attorney fees, $10,000.
Alderman Dan Henke said he would like to see the 2007 audit completed before the council considers trying "to squeak money out" of the 2009 budget.
"We worked many nights keeping contingency on the budget," he said of budget preparations last fall. "We've gone over this and over this."
Henke suggested two steps: First to create an administrator job description, and second for the audit to be completed.
"I want to know where we're at now (for available funds)" he said.
The city has been without a city administrator since the first person to hold the position, Mark Vahlsing, had his employment ended by the council in May 2007.
Alderman Keith Ingwell called for going "cold turkey" for a while, in lieu of toppling a contingency.
"What if, what if, what if?" he said. "We can't just pull money out. I'm all for replacing the administrator. But it'll come when we can budget it. Unless anyone is interested in a referendum? Personally, I don't think it will swing."
"The only thing an audit will show is how much surplus we have to stick in," Mayor Ron Marsh said.
"What I find puzzling, is that if we had had an administrator on board last year, where would we have found the money to pay him?" Alderman Paul Hannes asked.
Mayor Marsh said one of two things, or both, would have happened.
"There would have been almost no (funds set aside for) capital improvements in any department, and we were at the threshold of laying off people," he said.
"A good administrator may in the long run save us money, too," Hannes said. "There isn't anyone on the council who is qualified to run a city. You need a professional individual for that job."
"The city needs an administrator and I would like to see one by September," Hannes said after the meeting.
Hannes said the September time frame would allow a new administrator to become familiar with and be able to start the new year with knowledge of the 2010 budget. He also said he thought the city could hire a person to finish out the year for about $40,000.
Alderman Charles Schuringa asked about the remaining funds after the past administrator's contract had been fulfilled. Those funds are reallocated to other expenses at the end of the year, with council's approval, the mayor said.
Alderman Thurston Hanson expressed support of the mayor's idea of hiring a human resources person for between $30,000 and $50,000 and having a full-time mayor for four years.
The plan would save the city money and add stability, he said.
Hanson also pointed out that some cities pay between $1,500 and $2,000 a month for a full-time mayor.
He did not like $100,000 a year pay for a city administrator, which is what the city was paying its past administrator, including benefits.
""We need someone there, but not at $100,000 a year. That's where I objected, was the money we paid out," Hanson said
"With a mayor with real power, instead of quasi-power, department heads would know who to go to," he said.
"Let the people decide who should be mayor," Hanson said.