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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,January 4,2021 <br /> 2:30 p.m. <br /> 2. ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF CITY ADMINISTRATOR DUSTIN RIEF- Continued <br /> Seals clarified Attorney Mattick is looking for where the Council sits regarding the $3,500. <br /> Mattick said that is correct. <br /> Walsh asked to wait on that for a moment, as Johnson had a question and Seals also had a <br /> conversation with Mr. Rief. He noted there is nothing big on Rief s calendar and asked if Orono <br /> need Mr. Rief to be around until February 4, 2021. He would like to address those issues before <br /> they talk about the $3,500. He noted Finance Director Ron Olson will be stepping into the City <br /> Administrator role and asked his opinion on the value of keeping Mr. Rief on through that date. <br /> Olson noted he has been out on medical leave and his original work release said January 21, <br /> 2021 but he has been working from home. He is only working about 5 hours per day at the <br /> moment and noted they can increase that but he is currently unable to drive. <br /> Walsh said it sounds like there is value in keeping Rief on to get the house in order before he <br /> leaves. <br /> Olson said that would be his concern, and if the Council is comfortable with him working from <br /> home he can do that. <br /> Printup stated he is okay with Olson working from home as he has been doing in the interim. He <br /> noted at some point they could send out an internal application of anyone interested in taking on <br /> the role for a longer term while the Council decides what the process looks like over the course <br /> of many months. <br /> Seals does not have an expectation that Olson would be in the office every day for eight hours; <br /> she noted she also manages a team from her home and said Olson has been with the City long <br /> enough to know the ins and outs of what needs to be done and has a strong team that can support <br /> him. Seals has always been of the belief that when someone leaves a company or corporation, it <br /> is great that they have made that decision, but one foot is already out the door. If the City can <br /> pull the band-aid off sooner and jump right in, that may be better if Olson feels he is able to do <br /> that. Seals noted health-wise,they do not want to put Olson at risk and she does not think he has <br /> to be in the office. She would like to know what big things they would need to accomplish in the <br /> next month and the biggest thing she found from conversations are the union negotiations. She <br /> noted Mattick is involved with those right now but that would be the most pressing thing. <br /> Johnson noted the minute a City Administrator turns in their resignation, in his mind, they turn <br /> into a contractor of sorts rather than an employee. He asked if someone resigns, is the City <br /> obligated to say yes,they accept that date of February 4, 2021. <br /> Page 2 of 10 <br />