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Last month’s abrupt jettisoning, by three new Pine Island city councilman, of the position of City Administrator and then of the city administrator himself, made for a contentious council meeting.

Seconds after their swearing-in, the three new councilmen, Randy Bates, Erik Diskerud and Nick Novak, moved to oust Abraham Algadi, who’d served as City Administrator since 2006 and before that as Economic Development Authority director for 15 years. After a fiery debate, the trio’s purge succeeded.

In contrast to January’s rocky session, the Feb. 19 council meeting featured more civility than nastiness. Credit Mayor Rod Steele for good management of the relatively mannerly meeting. He used admirable diplomacy to quench a few sparks. (Not everyone heeded the vivid yellow handout titled Protocol for City Council meetings and Public Hearings.)

Post-adjournment, discourtesy returned in the form of a quiet and small – but unpleasant – incident.

City code revisions

January’s double axings necessitated revising the city code. At the February meeting, City Attorney Bob Vose announced the proposed changes.

The definition of the term city administrator was rewritten, said Vose, “to mean anything the city council says it means.”

The mayor, newly designated as “chief administrative officer” now has the authority to delegate duties identified in the city code. “The mayor is the fallback person if no one else does it,” Vose said.

The council will appoint a personnel committee to, according to the code, “supervise city employees, administer personnel policies, address any employment-related matters or grievances and issue any rules, regulations or procedures necessary to insure the proper functioning of city departments and offices.”

The finance director’s additional responsibilities include preparing the city’s annual budget; serving as staff liaison to the planning commission; and processing zoning, planning or land use applications or approvals.

Further, “the finance director shall be authorized to make or let purchases and contracts when the amount thereof does not exceed $2,000.” Whenever an expenditure topping $2,000 requires immediate attention, the council will hold a special session.

Councilman Jerry Vettel will assume the job of city treasurer.

The council gave unanimous consent to the code revisions.

Litigation pending?

Former administrator Algadi has hired an attorney and requested public documents pertinent to the firing, City Attorney Vose told the council, and because a lawsuit seems likely, the city, too, has retained a lawyer.

Regarding specifics, the threat of legal action prevented Vose from discussing them.

CPT report

School board members John Champa and Rob Warneke, who represent the board on the Community Planning Team, reported on the CPT’s Jan. 31 open meeting.

The gathering provided the public its opportunity to express opinions and make recommendations, and approximately 90 community members took advantage of the offer.

Attendees heard presentations on four topics and then voted on the topics’ importance. The school district took first. Here are the results:

School district - 39 percent

City services - 28 percent

Business development - 22 percent

Quality of life - 11 percent

For more information, see http://cc.pineislandmn.com/downloads/pine_island_community_input_meeting_summary.pdf.

What now for the vanquished flowerpots?

Steve Oelkers of Parks and Recreation told the council he could find places in the city parks for the 19 large flowerpots that once perched along Main Street. Last November, a majority of the council declared the pots safety hazards and banished them.

Councilman Novak didn’t like Oelkers’ idea. “It would cost the taxpayers to take care of the flowers and mow around them,” Novak said. “Auction them off.”

“There are lots of places we can use them around town,” said Councilman Vettel. “Let Steve handle it.”

After more discussion and no consensus, the council voted 5-0 to table the flowerpots’ fate issue until April.

Other business

•Joel Knox of the Park Board reported on the progress of the swimming pool study. A pool committee has formed, he said, and USAquatics Inc., a consulting, design and engineering company, is preparing a plan.

•Auctioning the flowerpots wasn’t Novak’s only economy measure. He disputed Vettel’s suggestion that Pine Island replace six weatherbeaten welcoming signs around its outskirts. Shabby signs with faded lettering, Vettel said, reflect badly on the city’s image.

New signs, Novak replied, would be a waste of taxpayer money.

• During the public comment period, someone suggested that Pine Island seek annexation by Rochester. If Pine Island were part of Rochester, the tax base would broaden, a new school would get built “and our population wouldn’t be stagnant.”

The uneasy truce ends

After the meeting adjourned, Novak and former councilman Dean Weis, who have a bumpy history with each other, were among a small group heading downstairs. Novak, walking in front of Weis, swung around and instructed Weis to go first.

“No, you go ahead,” Weis said.

“No,” Novak snapped. “You go because I won’t have my back to you.” He waited and scowled until Weis, grinning, preceded him down the steps.

The council will hold its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. March 19 at Pine Island City Hall.