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Home My WebLink About10262017 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 26, 2017 Volume 40, Page 302 111 CALL TO ORDER The October 26, 2017 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Mayor David Squires. OPENING CEREMONY Council Member Erik Slater led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: David Squires presiding and Ristine Casagranda Sue McClure Erik Slater Suzi Towsley comprising a quorum of the Council; and Brenda Ballou, Acting City Clerk Absent—Horn, Keil CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/McClure) Approval of Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Motion (Casagranda/McClure) Go into Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations for the City Clerk position. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Council went into Executive Session at 12:03 p.m. Council invited Acting City Clerk Brenda Ballou to remain. Council came out of Executive Session at 12:19 p.m. Squires said an agreement had been reached and the contract and resolution would be taken up at the next meeting. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 26, 2017 Volume 40, Page 303 COUNCIL COMMENTS Casagranda said she was hungry. McClure said she was glad to have this item accomplished,and reminded council that they had agreed to adopt a protocol at a previous meeting to have a verbal review of the rules of Executive Session prior to going into Executive Sessions. Towsley was happy to have Ballou as the new clerk. Squires said that during the course of this contract negotiation process,he had learned that council was required to follow the same rules for travel as the clerk,and as such,he wanted to make sure that a city vehicle was requested on the Travel Authorization Voucher prior to traveling;if a city vehicle was not available, then a private vehicle could be used for official business. In response to Towsley, Squires said it was up to the City Manager to determine if there was a city vehicle available and safe to drive outside of city limits. In response to Casagranda, Squires clarified that the City Clerk did not report to the City Manager,but was required to submit a Travel Authorization Voucher in advance of traveling for the purpose of ensuring that anticipated expenses were within budget. CITIZEN COMMENTS-None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS-None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. / Qp.).-1; Brenda J. Ballo•, MMC David Squires Acting City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) sE7 ' 4 1•• • #o •'ORPO ,•N-re.1 O• �.A • • ---♦- s • SEAL • -..— : rfr .7'' OF ASPS`. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 26, 2017 Volume 40, Page 304 CALL TO ORDER The October 26, 2017 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 12:45 p.m. by Mayor David Squires. OPENING CEREMONY Acting City Clerk Brenda Ballou led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: David Squires presiding and Ristine Casagranda Sue McClure Erik Slater Suzi Towsley comprising a quorum of the Council; and Brenda Ballou, Acting City Clerk Absent—Horn, Keil CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Carol Griswold wanted to know where City Manager Jim Hunt went for his Port Certification; she had asked Hunt and he wouldn't tell her. She wondered if she had to do a public records request to find out. She requested that council direct the City Manager to provide information in his reports to say where he had traveled, for how long,and how much it cost. She was concerned that he had been absent during budget discussions. She thought Hunt should be held more accountable, and that it shouldn't be so hard for a citizen to find out where he was. She suggested that perhaps his travel should be pre-approved, to ensure that it was in the public's best interest. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Casagranda/McClure) Approval of Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous Consent UNFINISHED BUSINESS Resolution 2017-070,Approving An Employment Agreement With Brenda J.Ballou For City Clerk Services. Motion (Casagranda/McClure) Approve Resolution 2017-070 City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 26 2017 Volume 40, Page 305 Motion to Amend (McClure/Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2017-070 in bullet#8 of the contract by striking the word "Ballou" and replacing it with the words "City Clerk". Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Mayor Squires swore in City Clerk Brenda Ballou. COUNCIL COMMENTS McClure said she was thrilled to have this moment. Towsley congratulated Ballou. Casagranda thanked Ballou for setting a high bar,and for being so ambitious on achieving certifications. Slater was very happy to get this done so quickly. Squires congratulated Ballou and said he thought the city had a fine employee in her. Council directed the City Clerk to begin the hiring process for the Deputy City Clerk immediately. CITIZEN COMMENTS Iris Darling congratulated Ballou, and said she was a good representative for the city. She requested that council remember to speak up during meetings so that the audience could hear better. Sharyl Seese congratulated Ballou and was pleased that council got this done. Seese reiterated the previous comments and said it was often difficult to hear council and administration speak during a meeting. Carol Griswold echoed the previous comments,and thanked council for holding the meeting today to get this done. She suggested a multi-directional microphone set up in the middle of the room might help the people at home hear the proceedings better. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Slater recalled the issue with the microphones in council chambers having already been addressed by council. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 26, 2017 Volume 40, Page 306 McClure said she had taken part in a microphone test some time ago, and the broadcast at her home yielded no marked improvement. Towsley said there should be a solution to the problem,both from a technical standpoint,as well as having everyone at the dais speak up and enunciate more clearly. Squires asked the clerk to look into having the ceiling speakers in the back of the room activated so that the audience could hear the speakers at the dais better. Ballou said the clerk's office had made many efforts to solve for a better broadcast for the at- home viewing audience. GCI had come to council chambers and examined the system,the city's in- house MIS Department had looked at it, independent electricians had been consulted, and a multi- directional microphone had been tested from the room—all efforts lead to no improvement to the broadcast. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:02 p.m. QV)j\c". Brenda J. Ballou,, MC David Squires City Clerk Mayor (City Se;l OF SEityq 0 -W.. ! • 33jjjjSEAL • a r • v • ,c3,. •�� :� •1, ••��,• •. .OF•PAPS °"t1 g1•$a...\