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Council approves tech department reorganization, personnel policies, and several routine administrative actions
Summary
The council approved new technology department job descriptions, authorized wage negotiations with IBEW, hired a transit operations specialist, updated the employee policy manual and investment policy, and made other administrative approvals.
Brainerd City Council on Feb. 3 approved a package of personnel and administrative items that moves forward an internal IT reorganization, codifies policy updates and fills a budgeted transit position.
The council first approved five new technology‑department job descriptions and classification point placements. Council member Gabe Johnson, speaking as chair of the Personal & Finance Committee, said the next steps include negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the union, posting positions internally for five days per the union contract, hiring internal candidates where applicable and then advertising externally. The council then passed a separate motion directing staff to negotiate wages for the new technology positions with the IBEW administrative support union.
The council also ratified the hiring of Aaron Foursome as transit operations specialist at step 2 of the wage grid, set at $25.39 per hour, and approved the updated employee policy manual after committee review. Finance director Connie Hillman presented an amended investment policy; council approved changing the interest allocation schedule from semi‑annual to quarterly as recommended by municipal advisors.
Other administrative approvals during the meeting included adoption of ordinance 15‑80 (final reading and adoption) removing the surety bond requirement for garbage haulers by aligning language with the contractor license section of city code; approval for a lessee (Mr. Perner) to assume four leased parking spots formerly held by Bob & Fran pending their consent; and a committee recommendation to continue representation by attorney Sofia Lick (Kutak Rock LLP) for current bond and economic development work.
The council discussed the union posting requirement for new positions and confirmed existing IT staff must apply for newly created positions per contract language. The votes on these items were recorded as motions and roll calls where applicable; the council approved each motion in sequence.
Ending: Staff said the union MOU and hiring steps will return to council as required; the city will begin advertising and filling technology positions after internal posting and MOU steps are complete.
