04-27-2000 Council Work Session Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION HELD AT 7:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2000 ROLL The Orono City Council met in a work session on the above mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Charles Kelley, Richard Flint, Bob Sansevere, and Barbara Peterson. The following represented City Staff: City Administrator Ron Moorse, Police Chief Gary Cheswick, Sergeant Morowczynski. 1. Personnel Matter. The City Council held a closed session to discuss a personnel matter. At the completion of the closed session, the Council gave its consent to the City Administrator's recommendation of a 14 -day suspension of Officer Larry Tomczyk. 2. Reorganization of the Police Department Supervisory Structure. Chief Cheswick and Sergeant Morowcyznski explained the need to reorganize the Police Department supervisory structure to provide a set of true first line supervisors versus the current corporal positions. The corporal positions are shift leader positions rather than first . line supervisory positions. As such, they do not have authority to carry out discipline, and they do not have any kind of authority to conduct performance evaluations. In addition, they are a part of the police officer union. This situation causes conflict when a corporal needs to deal with a performance issue. The recommended action was to eliminate the three corporal positions, and to create two new sergeant positions. This recommendation included the interim appointment of two sergeants for a period of up to 90 days to provide sufficient time to conduct a sergeant promotional process. Council Member Kelley questioned why the reorganization was being recommended at this time rather than waiting for a new police chief to make a decision regarding the Department organization. Chief Cheswick indicated the current organizational structure is not working, and a change needs to be made as soon as possible. If a reorganization is delayed until a new chief is hired and becomes familiar enough with the Department to determine a new organizational structure, the current dysfunctional structure could be in place for another 12 to 18 months. The Council indicated unanimous support for the reorganization recommendation. Fleming Trail Addition Revised Site Plan and Covenants. • As part of the annexation of the Fleming Addition property into Long Lake from Orono, the City of Orono placed covenants on the property to guide its future development and use.