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46 <br />Regular City Council Meeting <br />February 10, 2003 <br />Page 5 <br />Red River Valley Fair Association contract with Mr. Malone because the city <br />is tied.to a contract they cannot get out of unless they pay to getout of it. Mayor <br />Pfiester said the janitor has a contract for three years with an option to renew for <br />two years. If the janitor wants to work longer the contract has to be <br />renegotiated. He cited those examples, saying that he preferred a fixed term <br />contract to one with a "rolling" term such as the one proposed. He said he <br />could not see in this mechanism an easy way to part company with someone by <br />saying, no, your contract is up. He said the proposed contract seems perpetual. <br />Mayor Pfiester said even the City Attorney does not like contracts that do not <br />have an end. City Attorney Schenk advised that this contract does have an end. <br />Mr. Schenk said there is a process that was talked about on the evaluation and <br />the non - renewal puts an end to it. Councilwoman Neeley advised that the <br />contract has a two year termination in it. <br />Bell said one problem that all councils have had in the past and that citizens <br />have is thinking that the City Manager runs the city. Mr. Bell said that he does <br />not, that this council runs the city and sets policies. He said that the City <br />Council tells the City Manager what to do. If you study the City Charter that is <br />what is supposed to happen. There have always been council members who <br />give department heads orders. It is not correct to go over the City Manager's <br />head. <br />Councilman Plata stated that the City Council receives the paperwork or disk on <br />Friday night. He explained that, with his work schedule, on Saturdays and <br />Sundays he doe not have the time to go over the agenda packet. There are times <br />he votes on things that he does not get to explore. City Manager Malone <br />advised that the Council Members always have city staff available 24/7 to <br />answer questions, and most items that are on the agenda are routine items that <br />the city council members are aware of because they have been referred <br />previously. Mr. Malone cited, for example, the bids that are on the agenda <br />tonight were placed on the agenda from last month. <br />Councilwoman Neeley said she wanted to assure the citizens of Paris that she <br />and Councilman McCarthy did not meet and fifteen minutes later have a <br />