Forest Lake council promotes city clerk to assistant city administrator and approves reclassification of two positions

The Forest Lake City Council on Monday approved two personnel actions: the promotion of City Clerk Jolene Chaika to assistant city administrator and a pay-grade increase for the planning manager and building official positions.

City Administrator Mark Stotts recommended the promotion, noting that staff are understrength (about nine vacancies of 62 positions) and that Chaika had served effectively in the interim and as city clerk. Stotts said Chaika would keep the city clerk title temporarily while staff hire a replacement or a deputy clerk to transition into the role.

"She's certainly highly qualified and did an incredible job, serving as interim," one council member said during the meeting. Council then voted to approve the promotion by voice vote; the transcript records the motion, second and that the motion carried.

Separately, staff asked the council to increase the classification grade for both the planning manager and building official positions from grade 12 to grade 14 to improve competitiveness in a tight job market. Stotts said the budget impact would be about $22,000 annually for the two positions and staff believe the current year budget can absorb the change. The council approved the reclassification by voice vote.

The actions are intended to accelerate key hires, stabilize administration and improve the city's ability to attract candidates for technical positions in planning and building inspection. Jolene Chaika is expected to assume the assistant city administrator duties immediately; staff said hiring for a deputy or replacement clerk would follow.