To the editor:
A special meeting of the Clintonville Common Council scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17, was cancelled on Monday, Sept. 15. City Clerk Peggy Johnson told me that the three council members who requested the meeting had cancelled it. This was not the case.
Now the question arises as to whom has the authority to cancel a legally called meeting. I am concerned about the precedent set by a meeting cancellation without reason and without proper authority. Council rules allow for three members to request a meeting and the mayor must call such a meeting. This is part of the balance of power in our city government. I have asked city attorney April Dunlavy to research this question. The meeting was not postponed, just cancelled.
Earlier, Mayor Magee sent an e-mail to Johnson asking her to inform council members that she was moving two of the agenda items to the personnel committee. One item was a discussion of a search for a new city administrator. When I talked to attorney Dunlavy, she said this should be a closed session item since we were going to discuss salary and qualifications. I firmly disagree and think that there are too many closed session discussions at council and committee meetings.
This discussion was on the agenda at my suggestion as replacement of the administrator needs immediate attention. I suggested this as an agenda item to council President Jeannie Schley, who is a member of the personnel committee, and she added it to special meeting agenda. The mayor then made it a closed session item on the personal committee agenda.
An agenda item that was dropped was “Review recent mayoral decisions and acts and possible action.” This item was included to address recent actions that came to light in an open records request. The mayor in late April approved a holdover of vacation for the city administrator, an action which is against city policy. The mayor attempted to post-date the action to February. This cost taxpayers $7,900.
As a taxpayer, I want as much information discussed in open session as possible. The city administrator position discussion is not at a stage where negotiations are being held with candidates where confidentially is required. Urge your council representative and mayor to be selective about open meeting sessions.
Mary-Beth Kuester,
Alderperson, District 4
Clintonville
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