CITY OF OVERBROOK

 

 

 

MINUTES               SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING                                        APRIL 18, 2007

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                   Larry Coursen, Bob Sisson, Tadd Goodyear, Dorthy Chikly, Don

                                      Schultz, Mayor Jack Young.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:           Bob Call, Jim Koger, Cheryl Brown

 

 

 

 

SWEARING IN:        Cheryl Brown, City Clerk, administered the oath of office to Don Schultz who was unable to attend the April 11th meeting.

 

 

          Mayor Young stated the purpose of the special meeting is to discuss and determine the job description of Jim Koger and also to elect a President of the Council and liaison for the Overbrook Park Project.

 

 

JOB DESCRIPTION:           Mayor Young explained that originally Jim was hired to be the Assistant City Clerk for 20 hours per week.  This would include maintaining the city’s website.  After a few months, the council voted to make his job full-time to include animal control and maintenance as well as clerical duties.  The mayor said that he wants to designate exactly what Jim’s duties are by making a list.   After discussion, the following items were agreed upon:

 

          1.       City clerical work, maintaining the city’s website, and computer maintenance for

                   the city and the library

          2.       Reading water meters

          3.       Mowing city property

          4.       Animal control

         

Bob Call asked if the computer maintenance is limited to just the city.  Mayor Young said yes, that working on others would be done after his regular hours.    The mayor said that he wants Jim to continue reading all the meters and keeping the log for future reference.  Bob Sisson asked if Jim is taking all the water samples since he’s not certified.  Sisson was concerned with Koger signing off on the samples since he’s not been certified as an operator.  Bob Call said it was the same as when Sisson signed off on lagoon samples before he got his certification.  Having two people present when chlorine bottles are changed at the pumphouse was discussed.

          Mayor Young said that he didn’t have a problem with Bob using Jim as a second person as a “safety” guy when Call is using the backhoe.  Call asked if he’s supposed to jump off the backhoe and fix the water line or sewer.  Call then said he’s not going to run the backhoe and jump off and fix a waterline, so they can forget that.   The mayor said that in his mind, Jim might not be a qualified maintenance helper, and that he knows that Call needs help from time to time.  Mayor Young said his understanding is that Call would be happier if Jim isn’t in the trench as a helper.  Call said that he never said that.  Bob Sisson said that Call needs to get someone to help, whether it’s Jim or someone else.  Sisson then said when Jim was hired it was to learn the office so that there’s someone to fill in for Brown.  Sisson then asked Jim how he feels about this.  Koger said that other than not knowing how to do some things very well, he didn’t realize that he wasn’t doing what he was supposed to do.  He said that there are  things that Bob needs help with that he hasn’t done very well. 

          Don Schultz asked if there’s something underlying the situation to cause a problem with everyone working together.  The mayor said the main problem is Jim being pulled different directions, and his expertise may be a small factor.  Tadd Goodyear asked if Jim has been working since July without a job description.  Mayor Young said that the main problem has been in determining how to divide his time between the office and maintenance.  Larry Coursen said that he thought it was to be half and half.  Several options were discussed, also considering that Jim has classes at Washburn.  Don Schultz asked if a work plan can be developed around his class schedule.  Mayor Young said this would work except when there’s a water or sewer emergency.  Koger said that when he gets to a certain point, his classes will be mainly online or evenings.  The possibility of hiring someone just to mow was discussed.  Koger stated that once the semester is over, he will be able to work at least 40 hours per week.  Bob Sisson said that if Jim is covering the office, then Bob Call should call someone to help him whenever he has an emergency or a job that requires two people.  Cheryl Brown said that it’d be hard to set a definite number of hours each day for each department.  Bob Sisson asked Jim if doing all the things on the list has been a problem.  Koger said that until last Friday, he wasn’t aware that there were things that he wasn’t doing well.  He realizes that there are things that he would like to be more helpful with.  Mayor Young asked the council if they’re in agreement that Jim’s primary job should be the office, computers, mow and do animal control.  They agreed by concensus.  Koger then asked if they were overlooking Bob’s needing more help.  Bob Call said that he’d do whatever he has to do.  Call said he’d like to have someone that he can train and that he’s never had help ever since he started as maintenance supervisor.  Mayor Young asked if anyone has a problem with any of the jobs on his list.  The mayor then said that before they make any decisions about hiring another person for maintenance, they should consult the treasurer and also consider how many hours Jim Koger should work at the other jobs. 

          Larry Coursen moved to go into executive session with the clerk for 10 minutes.  Tadd Goodyear seconded the motion; meeting was recessed at 7:24 PM.  The mayor opened the meeting at 7:34 at which time Larry Coursen again moved to recess for another 10 minutes with Tadd Goodyear seconding.  The mayor called the meeting back to order at 7:44 Pm.  Mayor Young stated that the council thinks Jim is doing a good job, and they don’t want to cut his hours.  His job would be as stated in the list.  Bob Call then asked what if he wants to take a day off or go on vacation.  The mayor said that if he wants to use Jim, then just schedule it.  If Call needs help in the middle of the night, either use Jim or Todd Goodyear as he has in the past.  Mayor Young said that they need to look into finding someone for Call to train.

 

 

          Bob Sisson then said that he would like to discuss his being the Park Project liaison.  After considerable discussion, Larry Coursen made a motion that the city stop their involvement until there’s been a special election to determine if the city should proceed.  Bob Sisson seconded; motion failed 2-3 with Schultz, Chikly and Goodyear voting no.  It was then decided to hold another special meeting with the Park Project committee to discuss in detail exactly what the plans are.  The date was tentatively set for April 26th. 

 

COUNCIL PRESIDENT:      Larry Coursen nominated Dorthy Chikly as President of the Council; Bob Sisson seconded.  .  She stated that she has reservations about serving as she’s new to the council.  Tadd Goodyear nominated Bob Sisson as president with Dorthy Chikly seconding.  The vote was 2 for Dorthy Chikly and 3 for Bob Sisson.   Dorthy Chikly moved to accept the vote; Larry Coursen seconded and the motion carried 5-0. 

 

          Larry Coursen then moved to adjourn; Bob Sisson seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.      

 

 

 

                                                                   Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                   Cheryl L. Brown

                                                                   City Clerk

 

 

  APPROVED: May 9, 2007