City of East Dubuque City Council met July 20.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Pledge of Allegiance
1. 23-0715 Call to Order – Mayor Digman
Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Robey and Mayor Digman and Attorney Hess Absent - Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier,
2. 23-0716 Speakers from the Floor
NEW BUSINESS:
3. 23-0717 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve an Agreement with Dennis Sabers as a Temporary Accounting Consultant in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman
Alderperson Robey – Is Dennis bonded?
Mayor Digman – Sue Leute could you reach out and see if he is bonded.
Sue Leute – Not sure if he is bonded and will check to see if he is bonded. He is not.
Attorney Hess – If he is not accessing funds he does not need to be bonded. He is just reviewing our accounting.
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve an Agreement with Dennis Sabers as a Temporary Accounting Consultant second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier
4. 23-0718 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve an Agreement with GovHR USA GovTemps USA or Public Administration Associates, LLC for Search of Interim City Manager in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman
Mayor Digman – There are two proposals for Interim City Manager from GovHR USA GovTemps USA and other one is from Public Administration Associates, LLC. They both spelled out what they were offering. GovHR USA GovTemps USA is offering to place an interim here for $90 to $110 per hour plus travel and Public Administration Associates, LLC offer was $75 per hour plus travel. Reached out to a third company but they were not able to do the search.
Thought this was something that thought needed to move quickly but be rather through. Wanted to do due diligence to make sure that there were options.
Moving forward I recommend accepting the proposal from Public Administration Associates, LLC. I’m about relationships and had good conversations when reaching out to them. Liked that they already have a candidate in place and ready to go. His resume was included in the proposal.
Alderperson Robey – Resume is very impressive. Question though do we have to have a police background check.
Alderperson Burigmeier – Or are they checked through Public Administration Associates, LLC.
Alderperson Robey – I see on the City Manager proposal that a background check for City Manager will be at our cost.
Mayor Digman – Actually he wouldn’t be an employee of ours but an employee of theirs.
Jon Hochkammer – It is not necessary to do a background check. If the city requires it, they can make it happen.
Alderperson Degenhardt – Do you think it is necessary.
Alderperson Robey – I don’t know. That is why I asked the question.
Attorney Hess – I’d be interested in how they vet their candidates. What are the qualifications to be an affiliate or contract person with the company.
Jon Hochkammer – has worked with Mr. Seitz since the 90’s. Knowing that Mr. Seitz’s lives south/east of Madison and available asked if he was interested and said he was. This is Mr. Seitz's assignment with PAA. Jon will serve as a mentor and backup to Mr. Seitz.
Attorney Hess – It’s a matter of whether we need to do a background check or not. I don’t think we need to. It’s a legitimate question.
Alderperson Belken – how long would a background check take.
Mayor Digman – I don’t know.
Alderperson Robey – If we do end up requiring it, I know in the past they have allowed the employee to start working as the background check is being done. If anything was found, then it was discussed from there. Do we even want to require he does have a very impressive resume.
Alderpersons Degenhardt and Burgmeier – Don’t think it needs to be done.
Attorney Hess – Thinks that if it was a candidate applying individually it would be a good idea but going through the firm.
Mayor Digman – We are employing the firm not the individual. Sure, they have insurance and stuff behind them.
Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve an Agreement with Public Administration Associates, LLC for Search of Interim City Manager second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier
5. 23-0719 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve an Agreement with GovHR USA GovTemps USA or Public Administration Associates, LLC for Search of New City Manager in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman
This will be the full-blown recruitment for City Manager. The proposal from GovHR USA GovTemps USA came in at $24,500 and Public Administration Associates, LLC was $19,200 which could go down to $17,100 if we didn’t do certain options.
Did reach out to Barb Daus from the City of Platteville that was one of the people to call for reference. She had nothing but good things to say about Public Administration Associates, LLC. They have conducted five searches for Platteville. Another great conversation. Moving forward, his recommendation is to accept the proposal from Public Administration Associates, LLC to conduct the search for a City Manager.
Alderperson Robey – Do we need to decide if we go with the $19,000 or $17,000 tonight. There are some council members that are not here tonight that should have some input on this.
Jon Hochkammer – Would just need to know after the kickoff meeting.
Mayor Digman – Really liked the dates that were mapped out for the whole hiring process.
Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve an Agreement with Public Administration Associates, LLC for Search of New City Manager second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier
6. 23-0720 Possible Information Discussion with GovHR USA GovTemps USA or Public Administration Associates, LLC Regarding the Search for New City Manager in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman
Discussion with Jon Hochkammer on the goals of what they expect to achieve on finding a City Manager for us.
Laid out kind of the timeline they are looking at for hiring a City Manager. With things that they want the council to think about what they are looking for in a City Manager.
Will be back on August 7, 2023, and would require an executive session (closed door) for the personal things that will need to be discussed.
No action required.
7. 23-0721 Adjourn
End Time: 5:46 p.m.
Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Adjourn second by Alderperson Belken ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier
https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/july-20-2023-minutes
Alerts Sign-up