Both the Safety and Public Works Committee and the Personnel and Finance Committee brought forth their suggestions to move and approve the development on a hiring policy of non-department heads during Monday’s Brainerd City Council meeting.
An issue raised at past Brainerd City Council meetings, a suggested policy change focused on who would be involved in hiring decisions and if the council members should be more involved earlier in the process.
“The Safety and Public Works Committee has addressed this three times and the Personnel and Finance Committee has addressed this three times,” said council member and Personnel and Finance Chair, Bonnie Cumberland. “The non-written policy (for hiring non-department heads) we followed in the past seems appropriate but we need to put something down in writing and make it effective immediately.”
Council member Kelly Bevans moved to put an official policy in place, with a second from Lucy Nesheim. Both council member Bob Olson and council president Mary Koep opposed the motion, with Koep stating, “I think by putting this policy the council is virtually written out and with only a final say by council, it makes us a rubber stamp which I think is just wrong.”
The motion was approved 5-2 to which Koep responded, “God help us all.”
JESSI PIERCE may be reached at 855-5858 or jessi.pierce@brainerddispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessi_pierce
Comments (3)
Add commentRubber Stamp
The way Brainerd has been run in the past, you're lucky to have that much say of what goes on. Instead of coming up with ideas, and leading- the Brainerd City Council seems to sit and nay-say, harangue local businesses, and for the most part, not actually do anything to HELP the communities they are supposed to be representing and caring about.
This is a beautiful way to have a beginning to the end of the oligarchy and nepotism that has been seated at the throne of Brainerd for far, far too long.
obviously Keop and Olson need
obviously Keop and Olson need more to do ... the council can barely do the job they have now and they want to take on hiring responsibilities. That would just give them more decisions to screw up.
whats the problem
Its really very simple. If its your child, sibling, spouse or good friend, your qualified and hired.