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<br />authority to hire, fire and discipline all City employees.Mr. Price questioned whether the <br />City Manager had the authority to put the public at-risk. Ms. Forster informed Mr. Price that <br />the question as posed asks for a personal opinion rather than a legal opinion. However if <br />there is just cause for discipline the City Manager has the authority to do so. <br /> Mr. Price stated that every member of Council knows that when they accepted their role <br />as an elected official they were sent here by the public to protect the public interest. So <br />when you hear that Council has no role in the actions taken by someone they have <br />jurisdiction over every member knows that is not true. Mr. Price stated that when the Police <br />Department was understaffed by seven officers Council allocated funds and directed the City <br />Manager to hire seven officers in order to benefit the public good. So in his opinion, a <br />reduction in the Fire Department for what will probably translate to a 90 day period and being <br />forced to receive help from other municipalities plays a major role in jeopardizing this public’s <br />safety. <br /> Mr. Price stated that the next Council meeting will be his last meeting, but he would like <br />the record to reflect that he is pro-worker, pro-union, pro-labor, and believes that people <br />should be dealt with fairly. He stated that he would be remiss if he did not say that a bad <br />karma has begun to circulate around City Hall. With a history of mass firings, several layoffs <br />and now this current issue, rumors are beginning to spread that in his opinion makes it <br />difficult to attract quality individuals to the City. Mr. Price stated that he has to admit that he <br />is not surprised by many of these actions because they are all part of a pattern. City staff <br />was sent out to remove campaign signs that were properly displayed. Ironically, all of Ms. <br />Carr’s signs were removed because they were in violation of some fictitious City law. <br />Personnel files and social security numbers have both been taken out of City Hall. Mr. Price <br />stated that now he is looking at the Mayor’s campaign literature which features a police <br />officer. And then the City Attorney is here stating that this administration has not even <br />reviewed the City’s administrative regulations to make sure that they are even in compliance. <br />He stated that all of this is a pattern of deceit. I can do this and there is no repercussion for <br />what I do, but if you’re not with me and you do it, there will be reprisal. He stated that none <br />of this is new, but maybe it’s what the City wants. <br /> Mr. Price then asked Ms. Forster if the City’s regulations superseded State regulations. <br />Ms. Forster stated that State law supersedes City Law. So even though the City’s <br />administrative regulations are not current the City will not enforce them against what the <br />statute says. <br /> Mr. Price stated that when people believe that they have ultimate power to do anything <br />they want to do they will usually wind up making a big mistake. Including police officers in <br />brochures and changing the City’s logo without taking a vote, will all continue as long as <br />individuals believe that they have the ultimate authority to mislead and disrespect the welfare <br />of the public good. <br /> Mr. Price then asked Mr. Crow if he would repeat the recommendations he made with <br />respect to Council’s authority. Mr. Crow stated that Council has the option to ask more <br />questions; instruct the City Manager to reply to all of the concerned citizens that have <br />contacted him; instruct the City Manager to issue a letter of apology; reprimand the City <br />Manager for his actions or take a vote of no confidence. He stated that his belief is that the <br />City Attorney had also stated that citizens could file a complaint regarding the campaign with <br />the Secretary of State. Mr. Price asked Mr. Crow if he would restate option two in the form <br />of a motion. Mr. Crow stated that while he would like to be the one to do that, he does not <br />believe that proper notice has been given in order to do so. He stated that he would be <br />happy to support a suggestion by Mr. Price to schedule additional meetings to discuss the <br />matter further. <br /> <br />Mr. Kraft stated that a professional follows the technical and ethical standards of their <br />profession. He stated that as a physician he understands and respects those standards <br />since his professional duty is to his patient and not to his employer, the HMO, the insurance <br />company or the hospital. Mr. Kraft stated that the City’s firefighters are professionals who <br />7 <br /> <br /> <br />