The most controversial item in Monday’s city council meeting was not listed in the agenda. It was a resolution that was introduced within an unscheduled port authority meeting that took place during the city council meeting.

During &uot;ward items,&uot; when councilors typically mention things like potholes or overgrown weeds in their neighborhoods, Councilor Jeff Fjelstad motioned that the council meeting recess so that the port authority could meet. The port authority, an economic-development arm of the city, is run by city-council members and headed by City Manager Paul Sparks. It was at this meeting that Fjelstad introduced a resolution that would move City Manager Paul Sparks out of his job as city manager and appoint him full-time executive director of the port authority.

Though the resolution passed, some questioned the procedure by which the resolution was presented.

Councilors George Marin and Al Brooks conveyed dissatisfaction.

Marin, who described himself as &uot;greatly troubled,&uot; asked many questions before the vote. Fjelstad answered most of them.

Marin wanted to know about those involved with the move, what the motive was, why there was such a rush to decide on the resolution and why there was secrecy.

Finally, he asked, &uot;If we were to hold a public hearing (on the resolution), how would our constituents respond?&uot;

Albert Lea residents &uot;need to trust us,&uot; Mayor Jean Eaton said. &uot;They don’t always know what we know,&uot; she said, referring to background information about positions and organizations.

&uot;We did this for the good of the community,&uot; she said.

Fjelstad said he did what he thought was best. When asked if he thought he was representing his constituents fairly, he said yes.

Comparing the move to one made last year with the Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), Marin said that more discussion was involved in the previous move, which divorced the HRA from direct city control.

Others agreed that more notice should have been given. Don Sorensen, an Albert Lea business owner, said, &uot;This is the most underhanded thing the city council has done.&uot;

Roger Bok questioned a recent closed meeting among city council members and asked what occurred during the meeting. He also disputed the legality of a vote on the resolution. City Attorney Steve Schwab said that both the closed meeting and the Sparks resolution were legal, and said while discussion had to be held for the resolution, Monday’s discussion qualified.

Eaton said of the restructuring, &uot;This is not a new concept,&uot; referring to a discussion held in an April city council meeting about restructuring.

Though Sparks is expected to resign his position as city manager soon, the council members will still likely conduct written performance evaluations of Sparks.

(Contact Benjamin Dipman at ben.dipman@albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)