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The Community Economic Development Director for North Branch has been named short term interim city administrator, in the wake of the former city administrator resigning.  Renae Fry’s final day was December 15.  Jason Ziemer agreed to accept $600 more per week, to take over the duties and fill the post until January 9, 2024 —when the city council will be able to look at the situation a little more in-depth.

Mayor Kevin Schieber stated at the special meeting December 20, that administrator duties are complicated and some tasks may be able to be delegated, so that more clarity on the job description can be drafted.  In the immediate future though, the city can’t wait weeks to sign on a full blown interim administrator while a search for a permanent hire proceeds.  He added that the department heads and staff just need to know who is in charge and responsible for required municipal functions. 

Ziemer said he has 17 years of municipal administrative experience and the council took about 20 minutes to review his resume in a semi-closed session, with video recording equipment turned off. (Hiring consideration is an open process in Minnesota municipal government, including interviews.) 

Mayor Schieber explained that a list of substitute city administrators was received from the League of Minnesota Cities but five or so potential candidates, residing anywhere nearby, have been committed to other vacancies and are not available.  He said Ziemer, who was hired to succeed Carla Vita about 18 months ago, did express an interest in helping and Mayor Schieber wanted to run the idea past council first before making any promises. Terms of his wages, etc were left to be worked out at this meeting.

Council member Kelly Neider said she could support this action;  but only as a short term resolution and stressed that more time and consideration needs to go into this process.  She called this hastily called meeting a “shoot from the hip” response.  She also successfully argued against the initial salary bump requested by Ziemer, saying Fry was getting an “exorbitant” wage (stated as $83.87 hourly) and it should not become a baseline for any future administrator compensation.

Council member Neider also called for an anonymous review on Ziemer’s job performance, as perceived by city hall staff, which would consist of question and answer distributed and returned to the city attorney, who would compile impressions submitted without identifying any respondents and council will get a copy.  This was approved.

 In another vague matter, an investigator was  engaged to look into a data privacy breach alleged in connection to an earlier closed meeting where confidential material was discussed.  The County Press couldn’t learn more about this non-criminal allegation, because city hall was on holiday hours December 21 and 22 and nobody was available for questions, plus due to staffing shortage the council meeting materials were relatively sparse.

Private investigator Keith Hiller has reportedly asked council members to make themselves available for individual interviewing, and council agreed members will connect with him for reserving time slots on December 28 at city hall.

According to Mayor Schieber the city personnel policy mandates outside review of any pending data privacy litigation.  He said the city got notice from the former city administrator that private information had been leaked from a closed session, and he felt the council should prepare for possible litigation.  

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