Fridley Council to Vote on Making Finance Director Darin Nelson Interim City Manager

Fridley's current finance director, Darin Nelson, will take on additional responsibilities as interim city manager if the city council approves his appointment Monday.

Nelson would replace William Burns, who is retiring Dec. 31. Burns has been city manager since 1988. Nelson has been finance director for two years, having started on Nov. 15, 2010, according to a Nov. 16, 2012 memo from Burns and Human Resources Director Deborah Dahl recommending his appointment.

The regular city council meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the council's chambers at the Fridley Municipal Center (City Hall). A pre-meeting is set for 7 p.m. in an adjacent conference room. Both are open to the public. You can also watch the council meeting live or on rebroadcasts on Cable Channel 17, or in archived streaming video online.

See the full Fridley City Council agenda in the PDF above (agenda items concerning Burns' resignation and Nelson's appointment being at page 59 of the PDF). Here is the text of the memo from Burns and Dahl:

Staff is recommending the appointment of Darin R. Nelson, the City of Fridley's Finance Director, to the position of Interim City Manager, effective 12:01 a.m. on 1/1/2013, following the resignation and retirement of Dr. William W. Burns on 12/31/2012.

Under the advice of City Attorney, Darcy Erickson, a formal contract is required along with the adoption of a resolution, which is scheduled to go before Council at the Nov. 19, 2012 meeting (attached). The resolution and contract call for Mr. Nelson to take over and fulfill all of the duties, responsibilities, powers, and obligations of the City Manager's position as defined under Chapter 6 of the City Charter and Chapter 2.01 of the Fridley City Code. It is also recommended that the appointment continue until a new City Manager's contract is hired and commences employment with the City.

In a special Council meeting held on Nov. 5, 2012, I recommended the appointment of Mr. Nelson to Interim City Manager. Mr. Nelson has been with the City since Nov. 15, 2010 and has been exceptional in his duties as Finance Director. I am confident he has the skills and leadership abilities to handle the position and will serve the City well during this interim period.

Prior to coming to the City of Fridley, Mr. Nelson was the Assistant Finance Director at the City of Minnetonka for five years. He was also a local government auditor for the Office of State Auditor in Minnesota for more than eight years. He received his Master's of Arts degree in Public and Non-Profit Administration from Metro State University and obtained his Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting from Minnesota State University in Moorhead, MN. He currently has his CPA license and has been an active member and program committee chair of MNGFOA. Darin graduated from Moorhead High School in Moorhead, MN.

In consideration of performing his current duties as the Finance Director and undertaking additional duties and assignments as the Interim City Manager, I recommended that Mr. Nelson be given a 10% increase in his monthly salary and maintain his benefit package as a regular full-time employee. Mr.

Nelson's current salary on 1/1/2013 will be $9,282.00 per month. If this contract is approved, the monthly salary would increase by $928.20 per month and provide him a total salary of $10,210.20 per month (gross income).

In addition to the salary increase, I am recommending that the same car allowance be provided to Mr. Nelson as provided to me. The monthly allowance for 2013 is $354.96 per month (gross income). All other benefits he receives will remain the same as provided to non-union employees.

I have attached the resolution and contract for consideration, approval and signature on Nov. 19, 2012. Debbie Dahl, the Human Resources Director, will be available at the Council meeting to answer any questions you may have.