Dunes
City Council
M
I N U T E S
Special
Meeting
November 15, 2007
-
7:00 p.m.
Printable
file
City Hall
–
82877 Spruce Street
Westlake
,
Oregon
97439
COUNCILORS
PRESENT: Mayor (Acting)
Peter Howison, Richard Koehler, Susie Navetta, David Bellemore, Bob
Petersdorf
COUNCILORS
ABSENT: John
Scott, excused
OTHERS
PRESENT: Mayor
Elect Eric Hauptman, Lisa O’Callaghan staff member, and several members
of the community
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor (Acting) Peter
Howison called the meeting of the Dunes City City Council to order at
7:00 p.m.
Roll call was then taken by
Mayor (Acting) Howison.
II.
Councilors
joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
There are vacancies on the
Road Commission (3), Planning Commission, and Site Review Committee (2).
Additionally, Councilor Peter Howison made the announcement that
there was a Lane County Community Council meeting scheduled for
November 15, 2007
. At this point in time, it
was brought out that said meeting was scheduled for the same date as the
current City Council meeting.
Mayor (Acting) Peter
Howison relayed appreciation and a thank you statement to the residents of
Dunes
City
and the Dunes City Council. He
declared that
Dunes
City
was in the process of hiring a non-politicized office staff.
He continued that working with Mayor Elect Eric Hauptman, he felt
that
Dunes
City
was moving forward, rebuilding from the ground up.
The finances will be evaluated and the City will live within a
budget. Back-up police
protection will be investigated. Other
the items to be handled include septic tank evaluations, monitoring water
quality, and compatible development.
Mayor (Acting) Peter
Howison then conducted the swearing in of the new Mayor Eric Hauptman.
Mayor Eric Hauptman
suggested a temporary hire to the position of Accountant/Bookkeeper to
help prepare for the audit. There
was then some discussion of a need to prepare the City books for an audit.
At this time, Councilor
David Bellemore made a motion to hire an accountant/bookkeeper.
Councilor Peter Howison seconded the motion.
Motion carried. Discussion:
Councilor Bob Petersdorf stated that he wanted to know where the
funding was coming from to pay this position, what was the time frame or
hours for this position, and what fund would cover the cost of payroll for
this position. Councilor Peter
Howison stated that he received a check in the amount of $l,000 from the
auditing company who failed to complete this year’s audit.
Mayor Eric Hauptman
explained that it is possible for the funding to come from the General
Fund. However; as to cost
factor, that is not known at this time.
Councilor Bob Petersdorf mentioned that the Port Commission used a
local accounting firm with success. Councilor
Peter Howison relayed that if an accountant was hired prior to the audit
that it would lessen the cost of the audit.
Councilor David Bellemore stated that the records need to be ready
and in place for the audit.
IV.
INTERVIEW
CITY
COUNCIL APPLICANT - SELECTION
At this time, the City
Council interviewed Jerry Curran for the position of City Councilor to
replace outgoing Councilor David Bellemore.
Councilor
Peter Howison asked Jerry Curran why he applied for the position.
Jerry Curran replied that he has lived all over the world and feels
the environment in
Dunes
City
is the most pristine environment. He
wants to see the environment preserved.
He is for controlled growth, sensitive development and compromise.
Mayor Eric Hauptman then inquired as to time available to fulfill
the duties of the position. Jerry
Curran stated that he is retired and is currently serving on the Water
Quality Committee as well as the Parks and Recreation committee.
Jerry Curran continued
that
Dunes
City
needs to be self reliant and can’t depend on the federal government.
There needs to be some policies changed or the lakes will be
polluted. He added that he has
a photograph taken in 1995. Councilor
Susie Navetta offered that she worked with Jerry Curran on the Storm Water
Manual and that he has perseverance. Jerry
Curran feels that everyone needs to get involved in our community.
There are great people living here and everyone needs to come
together for the betterment of
Dunes
City
. Councilor Bob Petersdorf
informed that
Dunes
City
needs a City Councilor who reads the city charter, the resolutions, and
the ordinances and can be your own voice.
Councilor Peter Howison made a
motion to appoint Jerry Curran to the position of City Councilor.
Councilor Bob Petersdorf seconded the motion.
Motion carried. Councilor
Peter Howison conducted the swearing in ceremony.
Outgoing City Councilor David Bellemore then thanked
Dunes
City
stating that there are exceptional people living here.
Councilor Petersdorf then
gave a report that three candidates applied for the position of Road
Secretary and that Marie McConnell is recommended for the position.
Councilor
Susie Navetta made a motion to hire Marie McConnell.
Councilor Bob Petersdorf seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Marie McConnell will be working 12 hours a week on Monday,
Wednesday, and Thursday. Including
the Road Commission meeting the hours may be a total of 15.
Her first day of work will be
December 3, 2007
.
Councilor Bob Petersdorf
stated that there is a vacancy on the Road Commission. At
this time, Councilor
Susie Navetta made the motion to appoint
Troy
Sathe to the Road Commission. Councilor
Jerry Curran seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
Mayor Eric Hauptman
discussed the position of City Recorder.
He informed that most cities have a City Recorder, controller or a
City Treasurer. He felt that
we should hire a City Recorder and that the City Charter has a Treasurer
position. We need competent
employees to take care of the City funds.
Currently, it is costing the city $750 per month to have the
minutes recorded and transcribed.
Councilor Peter Howison
possibly less predictability cost wise.
It is a good idea to separate the City Recorder and Treasurer.
Councilor Bob Petersdorf mentioned that the City Charter says he
can combine the two positions. Mayor
Eric Hauptman felt that the budget committee should meet quarterly to
review budgets. Councilor
Petersdorf inquired about a job description for a Treasurer position.
Mayor Eric Hauptman felt that a job description would be ready by
the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Including the Planning
Commission duties, LCOG cost to transcribe tapes through October is $4,000
and the total bill is not tallied. LCOG
bill year-to-date is $57,500.
Dunes
City
could be saving money by having competent staff versus paying monies to
LCOG. Mayor Eric Hauptman
cited one example of a transcribed tape totaling 26 pages.
Councilor Susie Navetta offered that perhaps
Dunes
City
could share the position with the City of
Florence
. Councilor
Bob Petersdorf made a motion to pursue investigating the position of
Treasurer complete with a job description and hours and cost involved.
Councilor Peter Howison seconded the motion. Motion
carried. There was
further discussion on re-advertising for the position of City Recorder,
Planning Secretary, and Treasurer. Also,
it was brought out that performance evaluations had not been done on the
city employees for over two years. Councilor
Peter Howison advised that clearly the City accounting needs to be in good
order to be prepared for the audit.
Lee Riechel
Lee Riechel informed that
the work load in
Dunes
City Hall
created a burn out situation. The
time spent on answering telephones, applications for land use becoming
more complex, lawsuits on land use, the Planning Secretary has a work load
that piles up. LCOG needs to
do the work they are doing due to the back log.
Perhaps reduce LCOG but not eliminate.
Land Use Code.
Reorganize
Dunes
City
Plan in
Dunes
City
.
Jerry Wasserburg
Definition should be laid
out what constitutes planning. Ad-Hoc
Committee to draft document regarding jobs.
Councilor Susie Navetta made a
motion to adjourn. Councilor
Robert Petersdorf seconded the motion.
Motion carried. Meeting
adjourned at
8:20
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa O’Callaghan
Administrative Assistant