To the Post Review this week, Kim Hugger restated what she had said many times during the meeting Friday. There is too much work for one person, and more duties are continually laid on her by the mayor. She admits she is unfamiliar with the computer programs, has had no training, but is willing to be trained. She also said she never had any verbal or written warnings about her work before.

In response to the allegations last Friday night, Hugger had said she lacked time to do proper record keeping while doing the work of three people.

As for mistakes on minutes, she said in five years there are bound to be mistakes, she noted that even the city attorney had made a mistake about her name on a document.

Regarding changing the automatic signature feature on e-mail, she said it somehow got removed and she didnít remember how to get it back, admitting that she needed training on the computer.

As for being rude, she said she never hung up on anybody. As for providing CUPs when requested, she said there is hardly ever a time when she canít provide them.

Hugger said the bookcases she was asked to clean up contained materials frequently used. She said she lacks sufficient time to do the reorganizing in the office at the speed the council desires.

Regarding the time people said they couldnít get through to city hall, Hugger said she doesnít believe it happened. She also noted that if she is on line one, and a call comes in on line 2 there is no voice mail on that line, so it would keep ringing.

Councilman Doug Chaffee asked her why things are not better documented, he said if they were she wouldnít have to try and remember back that far (a year).

Hugger repeatedly admitted she had no experience or training on the Excel program used in the city.

Per the allegation about paying for something not received, she said if something was missing, someone should have told her. Regarding a valve at the fire department, she was given the bill to pay. Itís up to the fire dept. to get her the info for billing and she said they admitted not providing the information.

She promised to be more careful about her work.

She said thereís never been a motion that she is to have certain material before the council, repeating again that she is not proficient at Excel spreadsheets.

There is too much moisture where the bulletin board is placed and there is no place else in city hall to post notices.

She did not receive direction from the council, she said as to what she should do in the PID filing.

ìI do not lack aptitude,î she said,î but added she never had training except for ìbrief interludesî with the mayor.

Regarding QuickBooks, she said ìsend me for training or hire a treasurer.î She said she has been working a lot with the city auditor on these issues.

Councilman Doug Payne admitted that Hugger said she had no experience as a treasurer when they put this job on her. Councilman Wayne Buisman said they were trying to save money by getting rid of the treasurer.

Hugger said she told the council at a closed meeting she didnít have the training. ìI did not apply for that position (treasurer).î

Payne said the council did not move to have her provide the materials. The mayor said those things do not need a motion. Hugger said the mayor puts a lot of demands on her. The mayor then said it is about as elementary as you can get to push the ìsumî button to get a total for the bills. He said he discussed this with Hugger several times.

The mayor said Hugger is to demand of the fire department that they signoff when an item is received or repaired.

On the phone too much? Hugger said some personal calls were in trying to make arrangements for her kids and she said there are many calls from residents about the mayor being in city hall.

She said she has had no direction about city code. She said with her current workload there is not enough time to work on the mess that was there when she started working.

Hugger said ìnoî when Chaffee asked her if the council has ever set a policy about what they want her to do.

Hugger said she was ìjust appointedî zoning administer. Sometimes during PC meetings, she said, itís hard to hear what people are saying, several conversations are going on, if there was an error in the minutes, she said, she should have been told. The PC meetings should be taped, she said.

Regarding issues with cash discounts, she again said she doesnít have the training to set up a system to monitor payments but would be willing to attend training. The council was reluctant to receive statements from Huggerís attorney, but eventually did and several were read out loud after Grundhoefer reviewed them during a break.

Miscommunication exists, she said, as the mayor often talks really fast at times.

Hugger said she never purchased any tabs for the fire trucks.

She said she never received a call from Fairview that there are outstanding bills on Lacinaís fire injury.

Regarding the price of the bulletin board, Hugger said she was told to go ahead and get one. If there was a problem with the bill, they should have said something, she said.

As for not having copies ready, she said there are copies for everybody on the table where she takes minutes. She canít always see who takes them. She said she did not purposely leave the PC out at the one meeting.

She said she does use the purchase order system.

Regarding the call to the LMC, she said she did call, but it was impractical to call every 2-3 hours. That, she said, was an example of the constant requests she gets.

Per the April 25 closing of city hall. She said she was so distressed when she received the allegations in the morning she could not face the public that day. She said she closed city hall and did her work. She said Lisa Jorgenson and Rodney Larson were with her giving her moral support. They were never looking at any city documents. She did show them the list of allegations. She had the right to share the allegations with anyone she chose.

Mike Kriz, city maintenance worker, came into city hall that day as well as Councilman Buisman. Lacina and Pat Wortham came in to get VIN numbers to get the title on the city fire truck.

The door was locked, I did have a sign on it, she said.

Councilor Olson came with a paper to post and was not in city hall more than 3-4 seconds.Buisman was there when Olson arrived, she said. A document laying on the council table was in question. Hugger said she did not put it together. Olson admitted she saw papers in Jorgensonís hands. Olson said Wortham let her in the door. She agreed she was not in for more than a few seconds.

As for being at Big Daddyís Hugger said she was delivering papers to Dan Walton next door.

Per the allegations, Hugger said these things should have been dealt with when they occurred, she believed they were being held against her for dismissal.

Huggerís attorney said in over 4 years Hugger had never been subjected to discipline just cause, a standard progressive discipline. She said job training is very important for an employee, especially when one is unfamiliar with programs.

When Kim was given the treasurer position, she said, she wasnít trained. When someone doesnít have the fundamental background, you need serious training. Kim has been given the job three people used to do, she reminded the council.

These types of issues should be addressed through training, Ayling said. She said perhaps the council should think about hiring an additional employee to get the standards in place for finances, processes and procedures. She said the allegations are not sufficient to dismiss an employee but are sufficient to look at training.

Huggerís closing statement was that she believed this was retaliation for her reporting a situation to the Minnesota Dept. of Administration about the mayor and Olson taking the backup off the computer to Olsonís home.

The meeting was then closed to the public and another set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11 to consider any action.

Comment from Lila Wiering, 5/11/06

This lady was 'obviously' not trained properly and yes they definately should hire a PT assistant.
She should not be dismissed.
She is willing and able to learn.
Give her that chance. We all deserve a second chance don't you think?