Item 3.11 Authorize Recruitment for the Administrative Assistant Position
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Administration Assistant City Administrator/Human Resources Hille October 12, 2026
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty 3.11 – Succession Plan
Recruitment
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
X Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend the City Council authorize a recruitment.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The Administrative Assistant, Sandy Lindenfelser, has notified City Staff of her upcoming retirement. Sandy has
worked for the city for over 25 years and has been an integral part of the city’s growth.
City Staff is proposing an overlap of the existing employee with the new staff to allow for training, knowledge share
and succession planning. This recruitment provides necessary crossover for vital operations as the City loses a long-
term pivotal individual and one that has strong institutional knowledge. The intended overlap of the existing staff
person and the new one would be limited to the month of December, which limits the cost.
The position is responsible for performing the following duties, including, but not limited to: receptionist and
customer service, administrative and clerical tasks, administering licensing and permit programs, code enforcement,
right-of-way permitting, and additional administrative duties as assigned.
The current job description will be maintained for the recruitment, but the position recruited will instead report to
the City Clerk in a restructuring, instead of the Assistant City Administrator. This helps support the further alignment
of the role of the City Clerks office, with the established department budgets, and in accordance with the staffing plan
presented to the Administrative Subcommittee, Public Works Subcommittee, and the City Council throughout the
budgeting review process.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• None
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to authorize recruitment for the position of Administrative Assistant.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
General Fund – Administration Department (41400)
The overlapping period of December 2026 was not budgeted
as the forecast of retiring employees is not factored into the
budget and the succession planning approach is integral to
onboarding the new employee.