WALL LAKE, IOWA – NOVEMBER 22, 2010
1. Marlene Anderson, city
2. Council goes into closed session at 7:28PM.
- Tape recorder is visible.
- All five council, Mayor, and city
3. Council moves out of closed session at 7:34PM
4. Mayor passes around petition by citizens to ask that city administrator be fired.
-- 93 signatures.
5. City Council terminates Marlene Anderson as city administrator of Wall Lake, Iowa based on performance and inability to communicate or respond to public needs.
- 4 to 1 vote.
- Council asks for keys.
- Michelle steps up to take over minute taking duties.
-Scattered applause.
6. Michelle Barr is acting city
7. On motion, Marlene given two weeks’ severance plus vacation pay.
- Morrow abstains.
8. Council does not address ad to be placed in the paper.
9. Acting
The following editorial change has been made. the post title used to read "Wall Lake City Council fires city clerk" it now reads "Wall Lake City Council fires city administrator"
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Congratulations Wall Lake!!! May the ouncil have a blessed Thanksgiving! There truly is ALOT to be thankful now!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet the city of Wall Lake hasn't heard the last word on this issue?
ReplyDeleteJust what is it that Marlene has done that has caused her to loose her job ??? Just curious ???
ReplyDeleteI believe one of the biggest issues was her attitude and her unprofessionalism towards the public. I am sure there are lots and lots of other reasons!
ReplyDeleteAnother reason includes the many mistakes she continually made on the city bills both residentail and commercial.
ReplyDeleteHopefully her performance evaluation included these items or the City may be paying. Sounds like a railroad job to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen 100 people in the town the size of Wall Lake get a petition together and sign their names to it, you are obviously not working well with the community who employees you.... hopefully the new city clerk can treat the people of Wall Lake with respect and not with an arrogant defensive attitude
ReplyDeleteI think the law would side with the council on this one. The council is elected by the people. The people filled out the request that she be let go. I don't see how the council had any other choice given the facts and then being presented with the petitions. They did the right thing. They also did the right thing giving her a two week severance pkg.
ReplyDeleteThey need to advertise this position and get someone with experience who is qualified to fill the position. This community is too important to let someone be anything but professional.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that this will not be over. I hope there is no dirty little secrets that your city clerk knew about because i believe she will be out to get you for revenge! I hope you get someone that it is professional and will stand up for the community of Wall Lake.
ReplyDeleteThe Wall Lake city council has finally made a step in the right direction to fire this [REMOVED]! Michelle I think will do a good job as acting city clerk! Great work Wall Lake City Council!
ReplyDeleteso does the public get to hear the reasons Marlene was fired? Or is this all hush, hush? Marlene I think you need to, post something in your defense. good luck to Michelle in her new role.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11/25/ 8:24PM,
ReplyDeleteI think your assertion that this is "hush, hush" is one of the most ridiculous things I have read regarding this issue.
In the history of public employees, I don't think the reasons for letting someone go has been discussed in depth more publicly than in this particular instance.
Since before TSN began covering Wall Lake, the Wall Lake City Council and the citizens of Wall Lake who were attending those meetings have been discussing this employee's performance openly during totally open public meetings. You could almost randomly pick any video entitled "public forum" or "call to order" and bring yourself up to speed on this one.
well "we"(the people in wall lake) got her out of there like we planned now its time to get rid of the council members lets start with Rob- there is a reason wall lake people dont shop at his store and its pretty sad when cookies bbq threatened to take their products off his shelf!! lets get wall lake back on track!!
ReplyDeleteHUSH..HUSH...????? Really ???? Did someone post that???? They obviously have not been following this for months! As for Marlene posting on here...if you read any positive remarks regarding her...assume they were made by her!
ReplyDeleteThe people of this community are HAPPY and THANKFUL that she is gone! The best of luck to Michele ..she will be fine..as for council members..I am SURE that some will not be re-elected next term.
Oh my goodness that last post made me laugh. I would have to agree, Marlene has made her posts here in her defense. I would like to make a comment about it's almost odd to watch the rest of the council meeting and seeing laughter, and light hearted joking made by the council, I can only imagine the stress that all of them including were under the past few months.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem with things in wall lake is that some people are afraid to do the right things for the town because that would make some people mad at them. You have to look out for the best interests of the town in whole. You have council members voting yes or no on things just because one other council member voted that way. You need people on the council that will do the right things for the town!!!
ReplyDeleteHow long was Marlene the city clerk/admin? Michelle seems very comfortable stepping in... does she have experience? I would like to see a picture of Marlene...she looks like a clerk I saw at a budget work shop in Johnston a few years ago who was [CONTENT REMOVED] Had makeup all over her face. Probably not the same person, but from a distance looks similar. A previous comment notes errors on bills. I would highly suggest to the mayor and council to have an audit done to make sure money was not pocketed. That is very common, but not all clerks are bad...many of us are very good and honest clerks!
ReplyDelete