10-23-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 9, 2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. Chief Van Eyll recommended hiring a list of fire fighters who would work as paid -on -call fire fighters for Station 2. He said the candidates are Jeff Krahl, Ryan Kanive, JB Seals, Justin Hinker, Mike Johnsrud, Ben Carlson and Tom Aldrich, all of whom have experience as a firefighter with another department. All have passed Firefighter 1 and 2 and are either EMT or EMR. He is recommending hiring at $16 per hour effective Oct. 10, 2023 initially to perform administrative work with training starting in January. Benson asked the attorney to comment on this action as well related to the injunction. Attorney Reuvers reiterated his previous comments that the order is very specific and there is no prohibition on hiring. Benson asked if all the individuals were currently serving the City of Long Lake Fire. Van Eyll said as far as he knows they are Benson pointed out the pay would be $16 per hour when they are making 15.85 at Long Lake. She asked where the $16 per hour figure came from. Van Eyll said they did a compensation study with other cities and didn't want to be either the highest or the lowest in pay. These fire fighters are able to serve both Long Lake and Orono. Veach pointed out Long Lake currently has four or five fire fighters that serve more than one department in close proximity. Benson said she has the same concern on this agenda item as the previous one. Veach said she wanted to take a moment to thank these charter members of the Orono Fire Department. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to approve the conditional job offers to Jeff Krahl, Ryan Kanive, JB Seals, Justin Hinker, Mike Johnsrud, Ben Carlson and Tom Aldrich as paid -on -call fire fighters at $16 per hour starting Oct 10, 2023. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 1 (Benson). 18. AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE PAID -ON -CALL FIRE FIGHTER Chief Van Eyll said this action is to hire a paid -on -call fire fighter for response at Station 2 who has gone through the same hiring process. Ben Veach has experience with another department and is a Fire Fighter 1 and 2, he said. Benson asked if Veach should recuse herself from the vote. Attorney Mattick said he had asked Veach to recuse herself from the vote and from participating in any discussion on this item due to a conflict of interest. The proposed hire is her husband and the matter involves employment. Benson said she wanted to state again her concerns about this issue adding it is an unfortunate situation where the optics of fire in the City and the optics of an appointment or a hire like this is not ideal for a City that is engaged in a lawsuit. Crosby moved, Johnson seconded, to approve a conditional job offer to Ben Veach as a paid -on -call fire fighter at $16 per hour starting October 10, 2023. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 1 (Benson). Veach abstained. Page 6 of 10