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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, May 9, 2016 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />Page 24 of 28 <br /> <br />15. RFP FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY (continued) <br /> <br />Loftus stated it is very important that the prosecuting attorney make impartial decisions about who gets <br />prosecuted and on what since any bias can result in cases be thrown out. <br /> <br />Loftus stated as the governing body, it is completely within the Council’s right to decide who services the <br />contract but that it is important to remind themselves that the prosecuting attorney has autonomy and that <br />he should not feel any political pressure from the Council. <br /> <br />McMillan stated the Council should pass any complaints about the prosecuting attorney immediately to <br />the city administrator and that individual council members cannot personally get involved in it. <br /> <br />Mattick stated the prosecuting attorney should not receive a phone call from a council member telling him <br />not to prosecute someone. <br /> <br />Printup moved, Levang seconded, to interview all four candidates for the position of prosecuting <br />attorney for the City of Orono. <br /> <br />Walsh noted when the RFP was sent out to the Council for review, he commented right away that <br />currently there is an annual appointment and that it was to be reviewed every five years. Walsh stated he <br />was not looking to bind the City in a straight 5-year contract, with the contract being renewed every five <br />years, and that he requested that be changed. Walsh stated since it was too late to deal with that then, he <br />would like to deal with it now. Walsh stated he is looking for the best firm to do it and not someone who <br />has simply done it for a number of years. <br /> <br />Loftus noted the terms of the contract are negotiable and should be discussed at some point. <br /> <br />Levang stated she would like some continuity of service and that when people are not sure whether they <br />are going to be hired again for the following year, it makes it difficult on them, especially if they have <br />cases they are going to be prosecuting. Levang stated in her view a 5-year contract helps demonstrate <br />loyalty on behalf of the City and that she has a concern about not being able to extend a contract for more <br />than one year. <br /> <br />Loftus noted it is a 3-year contract currently. <br /> <br />McMillan indicated she is really only interested in interviewing the first three since the fourth one does <br />not have any experiencing involving Lake Minnetonka, but that she would be willing to interview all four <br />if the rest of the Council would like to. <br /> <br />VOTE ON THE ABOVE MOTION: Ayes 4, Nays 0, Cornick Abstained. <br /> <br />Loftus asked if Chief Farniok should be involved. <br /> <br />Levang stated she would like him to be there. Levang stated he could just listen and not participate in <br />asking questions but that he should be involved to some extent since the Council is selecting someone the <br />police department has to work with. <br /> <br />Loftus stated the police chief would be a resource for determining a good prosecutor. <br />