HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 12-03 Coleman takes the reins in Maplewood MAPLEWOOD REVIEW colemtake s tie rel n s in Ma lewood
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0 3 2014
Holly Wenzel Manager Greg Copeland Ahl said he'd stayed in to rank the four applica
Review staff announced the city had touch with Coleman and tions "blind"—that is, slap
cut her position, as well encouraged her to apply. with names and identi-
After ' "� '.�
After leaving Maple- as those of the deputy After Ahl left the city fying information blot- ` ° 'y 4 4`\4'''',, ,
wood city administra- police chief, the aasis- May 30, Coleman was ted out. Slawik says Cole- „.„„w, a ,u 4;''‘A''-'.1 i
tion during some rocky tant fire chief, the human appointed interim city man's application rose to „ '''m„ "` �''
years in the mid-2000s, resources director and manager. the top. , ,,.�
Melinda Coleman came the parks and recreation At its Nov. 10 meeting, ,` ,�l i 1.00010
back in 2013 for more. director. Emerged on top the City Council voted s$
And she got it: the long- Coleman had a job lined Mayor Nora Slawik said unanimously to hire '- , ;„ .'
time assistant city man- up at Target Corporation in a phone interview that Coleman on permanently
ager has been hired to the as a senior real-estate after Ahl's departure, the in the position, with , , ,
city manager post in the development manager. "I city formed a search coin- Jeunemann introducing r
second-most-populated had the opportunity to mittee including council the motion. j'.�
city in Ramsey County. work in the private sector, members Bob Cardinal "It's been a long sev- 4' .
(Maplewood, at roughly and I wanted to give it a and Kathy Jeunemann to eral months and Melin- aF' ",;,t ,
18 square miles, posted a try,"she explains. look for its next city man- da's done a good job," a Av
2010 census population However, in 2009, she ager. Slawik says of the deci �� ��� .� �`
of 38,000; Roseville, at 14 was back on the local- With the help of Maple- sion. "I believe that city ��
square miles,has 34,000.) government scene, as city wood human resource staff, city council mem-
administrator in North coordinator Te r r i e hers and people in the
Prior experience Oaks. Ramieux and employ- community understand ,� _ .
Coleman began working And, when City Man- ment attorney Chuck that she has a deep
for the city in 1995 as the ager Jim Antonen left Bethel, the committee knowledge about Maple- ,' ',, .,
community development Maplewood in 2013 put together a position wood and is able to use
director, and in 2000 had and assistant manager description and posted it, that effectively to move °'
the assistant city manager Chuck Ahl was pro- but only received three us forward." Linda Baumeister/Review
added to her duties. moted, Coleman applied applications. After a seven-year absence,Melinda Coleman
She resigned in 2006 for her old job, which "Then people encour- Hollb Wenzel can be returned to Maplewood in August 2013 to the same
amid a flurry of other now included an "envi- aged Melinda to apply and reached at review @lil- job she'd left:community development director and
resignations and a firing. ronmental development" she applied," Slawik says. lienews.com or 651-748- assistant city manager.After former City Manager
For the upcoming 2007 component as well. An independent con- 7817. Chuck Ahl retired April 30,Coleman filled the gap
on an interim basis.She's now been named City
budget year, then City Ina 2013 interview, sultant was brought in
Manager by a unanimous vote of the city council.