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Regular City Council Meeting <br />February 10, 2003 <br />Page 8 <br /> <br />Attorney Charles Waldrum came forward stating that he was representing <br />Tenaska, which is one of the city's major tax payers. Mr. Waldrum advised that <br />his client only received notice about 3:00 o'clock today that these items were <br />going to come before the City Council. He said they did what they could do in <br />a short period of time. He client has concern about entering into a situation that <br />dramatically changes the ways things are being done without a thorough <br />assessment of what is meant. The fact that the contract that Mayor Pfiester gave <br />him a few minutes ago is not the latest contract is evidence that some Council <br />Members have not had a chance to thoroughly read and understand the contract. <br />Mr. Waldrum said that selecting our city leaders is very important and is not to <br />be entered into lightly and certainly not entered into hurriedly. He said what his <br />client would like to have done is to have this matter tabled so they could read the <br />contracts that are going to be voted on and try to determine the impact they might <br />have. Mr. Waldrum said he realizes that the City Council Members worked <br />diligently on this and as a person who draws up contracts he knows how much <br />trouble it can be. Mr. Waldrum said in the time limit that he has had to review <br />this contract, there are six, eight, or ten serious problems with this contract, and <br />this contract should not be approved as it is written. Mayor Pfiester said he <br />would give Mr. Waldrum all the time he needed. <br /> <br />Mr. Waldrum pointed out the automatic rollover aspect of things is such that if <br />a city official, taking all personalities out of it, just looking at from an objective <br />standpoint that you are unhappy with him, receives the lowest possible score, you <br />are stuck with that person for at least two more years. The idea has come up that <br />if the city official gets a bad rating he is going to be looking for a job. What will <br />the official be doing during those two years? Mr. Waldrum stated that the <br />official will be neglecting his position and neglect is not a basis for termination. <br /> He also pointed out that the only thing the official can be terminated for is <br />willful and serious misconduct in the performance of his duties. Mr. Waldrum <br />said he knew of no other job that is so safe that as long as the person is alive and <br />not disabled, he can keep his job unless he does a willful and serious <br />misconduct act. <br /> <br /> <br />