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City Council Minutes <br />September 4, 2018 <br />Page 8 <br />Mayor Dietz asked about the duty officer process before the former Fire Chief was <br />hired. <br />Mr. Cunningham stated it was a weekend program. <br />Mayor Dietz clarified it was up to the firefighters to volunteer for duty officer shifts <br />and the pay was less. <br />Mr. Cunningham added that once the program became required, some protested. <br />There was also angst that they were not compensated the on call wage. It was a <br />culture shift. <br />Mr. Pormer said an early ordinance stated the Fire Chief was responsible for vehicles <br />and buildings but not staff. It has since been changed. <br />Councilmember Ovall asked if separation agreements are drafted at the time of hire <br />or negotiated at the end of employment. <br />Mr. Beck said that separation agreements are done at the time of separation but <br />some employees, such as the city administrator, have employment agreements. <br />Councilmember Ovall clarified the separation agreement was drafted upon leaving. <br />Mr. Cunningham reviewed the timeline of resignation and receiving the separation <br />agreement. <br />Mr. Portner added that, at severance, employees receive half of accrued sick leave up <br />to 960 hours if they leave in good standing and meet certain requirements. <br />Mr. Portner said the updated position evaluations put all of the directors in the same <br />category for decision making. The tasks the fire chief performed in the past would <br />not have changed the points in the current position evaluation. The difference came <br />that all of the directors have the same weight for strategic planning. <br />Mayor Dietz asked the Council if they wanted to make the decision. He felt the <br />Council owed Mr. Cunningham something since he was put in a position beyond his <br />control. <br />Councihnember Ovall said a lot of reorganization took place before he became a <br />Councilmember. He feels more informed on the procedures that took place as well <br />as the timing and is okay with offering some amount of compensation. <br />Councilmember Olsen agreed the Council should consider "meeting in the middle." <br />Councilmember Westgaard said this was a tough situation. He asked why this was <br />now being brought to the Council's attention when it happened seven years ago? If it <br />was this big of a deal he wishes the Council at the time could have discussed what <br />NATURE] <br />