The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 7:00pm. Mayor Ryan Miller presided with the City Attorney, City Clerk and following Council Members: Marc Pennington, Steve Slaubaugh, Fern Bontrager and Johnny Schwartz; absent: Doug Powell. Also present were: three members of the news media, WATV staff and one citizen. The Consent Agenda was approved upon motion by Bontrager, second by Pennington and all aye votes. The Consent Agenda includes the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, and the following claims:

Kevin Miller was present to request an extension on the abatement deadline he was given for his property at 119 8^th Avenue. The City had notified him the concern of the structural soundness of the building and gave him until October 2, 2011 to clean it up, repair it and determine the structural viability of it. Miller stated that other issues had made it impossible to address the abatement order. The concern of a fire hazard had been resolved by disconnecting the electricity and gas to the building. He requested an extension of thirty days to allow a structural engineer to inspect the building and determine if it can be saved. A copy of the report will be given to the City. Slaubaugh moved to approve an extension to November 1, 2011. Schwartz seconded the motion and all voted aye.

Resolution No. 11-35 to set a date for a Public Hearing to receive public comments regarding application to the Iowa Department of Economic Development for a Community Development block Grant for wastewater system improvements was introduced and caused to be read. The Public Hearing will be held on October 17, 2011. Slaubaugh moved to adopt Resolution No. 11-35, Bontrager seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 11-36 to approve the FY11 Street Finance Report was introduced and caused to be read. Pennington moved to adopt Resolution No. 11-36, Schwartz seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 11-37 to appoint a City Administrator and set salary was introduced and caused to be read. Mayor Miller pointed out that several items on the contract had been changed by the candidate. The Council reviewed each of the change requests as follows: Section 1: to change the start date from October 3, 2011 to October 1, 2011; the Council approved. He requested a 457 retirement plan as part of the contract. The City already has a plan in place, therefore it will not be needed in the contract. He asked for a cafeteria plan for medical coverage. This is something the City is not currently involved in and the Council agreed should not be part of the contract but a plan that can be addressed with the City employees at a future date.

Section 4: He requested a Parkside Center membership. That is part of the medical benefit plan already established so will not be included in the contract. Vacation time of eighty hours was asked for upon employment but not to be used until the six-month probationary period is completed. He changed the contract to provide a cap of 120 hours up to six years and then 160 hours thereafter. There was concern in the wording that it might allow more than 160 hours to accumulate. The Council agreed to cap it not to allow more than 160 hours and to require prior approval to take more than 40 hours of vacation at one time. Also requested by the applicant was twenty-four hours of sick leave upon the hire date. This was approved.

Section 9: added wording that clarified no termination will occur before the end of the six-month probationary period except for cause. This was approved by the Council.

Section 10: The City had provided for thirty days of severance pay upon dismissal/termination. Baker asked for ninety. The council agreed to sixty days severance pay and eliminated a payout of sick leave but included pay out for unused vacation leave.

Section 12: The City set January for the annual performance review. Baker asked for the employment anniversary date. Mayor Miller explained to Baker this was for budgeting purposes and easier scheduling. It was agreed to leave it at January.

Section 15: The City had allowed the administrator to live within five-minutes driving time of the City. Baker removed that and wanted a requirement that the administrator must live within the City. This was approved.

The Mayor then returned to Section 3 on salary. The City had set $55,000 per year as starting salary. Baker asked a salary of $59,500 to start and increase in six-months of $62,500. The Council discussed this at length and noting that the last administrator was receiving $60,000 after four-years of experience, Baker has ten years of experience. The Council discussed agreeing to the $59,500 salary or $60,000 to start but no raise after six months.

The Mayor and City Attorney will make these changes and return the contract to Baker for his signature. The Resolution was tabled.

The City has asked that ECICOG prepare the application for a CDBG grant to help fund the needed wastewater improvements at the plant and a section of sewer main liner. Bontrager moved to approve the service agreement with ECICOG, Pennington seconded and all voted aye.

A policy change for the employee handbook would require employees to be reimbursed for meals paid for while traveling for the City based on submitting a receipt for the meal. Currently the policy gives flat dollar amounts for meals with no receipts required. Slaubaugh asked that a cap of thirty dollars per day be added to the policy to restrict the cost of meals. He moved to approve the policy with the limit of thirty dollars per day. Pennington seconded the motion and all voted aye.

In general administrative discussion Mayor Miller passed around pictures Teresa Lampe submitted of the stone landscaping around the North Park flag pole and nearby tree. The stonework is broken and deteriorating. She has asked for bids from two local contractors. The Council agreed for her to proceed with the project for completion in the next two weeks.

Lampe also had pictures of the culvert under the sidewalk to the skate rink. Concerns have been raised about safety issues. Mayor Miller reported city workers are making plans to have that issue resolved.

The downtown striping is done except 2^nd Street. The crew will return to complete that area.

Marlyn Allen has asked to purchase the west side walkway that is attached to his downtown building. He has informed the Mayor he has someone interested in putting a business in the space. There were Council concerns it was to be used for living space which is against zoning restrictions. The Mayor will get a firm proposal from Allen and then the Council can consider asking for bids for the property.

Comments also were made on the striping, meter change-out program and a 1^st Avenue property in need of abatement.

With no further business Slaubaugh moved for adjournment at 8:04pm, Bontrager seconded and all voted aye. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, October 3, 2011, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.