EUC member to produce city handbook
Despite some city council resistance, it appears that a member of the Ely Utilities Commission will be paid to develop an employee handbook.The council voted 5-2 Tuesday - with members Mark Zupec and Mike Hillman opposed - to hire EUC member Christine Hartman for the job.She will be paid $5,000 for the project.Hartman works as a consultant and has developed policy manuals for other organizations, including Vermilion Community College, but her credentials weren’t the source of council debate over the project.Instead, both Zupec and Hillman said they were concerned that the move could raise charges of conflict of interest, since Hartman serves on a city commission and the city never sought proposals for the project.It’s legal to bypass requests for proposals or bids when seeking professional services, according to a legal opinion issued by city attorney Larry Klun.Klun said the council had the authority to contract directly with someone such as Hartman.Outgoing council member Paul Kess said the city follows a similar path when seeking other professional services, noting another item on Tuesday’s agenda - council support to hire Hibbing firm R.L. Kuusisto for city engineering services.The council has also entered into direct negotiation with Klun for legal services, rather than seeking bids from other firms.In other business, the council:• Appointed Kess to serve on the city’s telecommunications advisory board until a new clerk-treasurer is hired.• Voted to seek proposals from parties wishing to purchase R-2 (which allows multi-unit developments) zoned lots in the Spaulding area.• Gave police chief Archie Manning permission to obtain price quotes on a new squad car.• Appointed Hillman and Pecha to work with Klun on a proposed contract with the Ely Nordic Association for management of the Hidden Valley recreation area• Approved several claims for payment, including $71,106.31 to St. Louis County in the fifth installment of city payments for the Camp Street improvements.• Approved city soft drink and cigarette licenses for 2005, subject to the filing of proper paperwork and the payment of fees.• Voted to close City Hall all day on Christmas Eve and keep offices open all day on New Year’s Eve, a practice that has been followed for several years.• Recognized outgoing mayor Frank Salerno and Kess for their years of service to city government.They were honored at a reception prior to Tuesday’s council meeting, and during the meeting deputy clerk Patti Wellvang presented both with plaques.“I can’t think of two more deserving elected officials I have worked with in all my years of service,” said Wellvang.Salerno served three terms as mayor and was on the city council at various points in the last 18 years.Kess was on the council for 10 years.
