Posted: 1/8/04

City administrator accepts new position in East Bethel

by Elyse Kaner
Staff writer

After months in the planning, Doug Sell will join East Bethel's staff as city administrator, a newly established position.

"Our biggest concern was to get the right person," Mayor Greg Hunter said.

Sell was recently employed by the city of Brooklyn Center as director of fiscal and support services, where he oversaw finance and assessing.

As city administrator, Sell will receive an annual salary of $74,000, a city employee benefits package and a $1,500 moving allowance so that he can relocate closer to East Bethel, Hunter said.

Employer's Association of Plymouth, an independent consulting firm, which handled the hiring process, narrowed a list of six candidates down to two finalists. The other finalist took a position as city administrator in Mahtomedi.

Sell was the only candidate brought forward for an interview, according to City Clerk Sherri Anderson.

A city administrator assesses the city's staffing level and work assignment needs with the objective of making the city run efficiently at the level required by law, George Gmach, human resources consultant said in a Sept. 11, 2003 letter to the city council.

The administrator recommends change to improve performance. Typically, city administrators work out change through discussions with council, who usually act after recommendations and supporting information is presented, the letter stated.

Department heads are usually included in advanced discussions in developing recommendations.

Responsibilities of the city administrator will include: communicating with city council to develop priorities for new and existing government activities, supervising the city's finances and representing the city to the public.

Additionally, the city administrator will oversee the technical operations of city government, hire qualified staff, subject to city council approval and direct enforcement of all city codes and ordinances that protect and enhance the welfare of the public.

Should the city decide to discontinue the position after time, the city administrator would be given six months' notice. No severance package has been written into the agreement, Hunter said.

Sell's first day with the city will be Jan. 26.

"He's going to be a good team player for the city," Hunter said.

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