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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11042020 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 4,2020 Volume 41,Page 306 CALL TO ORDER The November 4, 2020 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m.by Mayor Christy Terry. OPENING CEREMONY Vice Mayor Tony Baclaan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Christy Terry presiding and Sue McClure Tony Baclaan John Osenga Liz DeMoss Sharyl Seese Ristine Casagranda(telephonically) comprising a quorum of the Council; and Norm Regis, Acting City Manager 111 Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Jessica Stallard, Deputy City Clerk Excused—None Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING The City of Seward is currently experiencing a declared public health emergency due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), so alternate methods for providing Citizen Comments were created. Unless otherwise noted, the following Citizen Comments were submitted in advance and read into the record by the City Clerk: Carol Griswold was disappointed in the candidate selection and vetting performed by GovHR for the last city manager recruitment. She suggested that council ask Homer for the list of questions that they used to interview their city manager candidates. She suggested that the city use Zoom as an interview tool. Lynda Paquette(telephonically)congratulated the new council members and Vice Mayor Tony Baclaan. She thanked the new council members for being prepared to get to work at their first meeting. She was in favor of Norm Regis serving as Acting City Manager until a permanent city manager was hired. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 4, 2020 Volume 41,Page 307 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Baclaan/Seese) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous There were no consent agenda items. NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Discuss the recruitment of a new permanent City Manager. Council appointed Norm Regis to serve as Acting City Manager until a new permanent city manager was hired. Council directed the clerk to rehire GovHR to search for a new permanent city manager. In response to Terry, Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell said personnel had asked GovHR what they would charge to recruit a Finance Director. In response to Baclaan,City Clerk Brenda Ballou said all of the hiring for the city manager position was completed by GovHR two years ago.The city could have the position posted on the city website with a link directing applicants to GovHR's website. CITIZEN COMMENTS Lynda Paquette thanked council for their hard work.She said the 2019 discussions on hiring the permanent city manager were available on the Seward Civic Engagement Facebook page. She believed the termination of Former City Manager Scott Meszaros was long overdue. She hoped the next city manager would listen to everyone and communicate with everyone.She suggested that job descriptions be emailed to the clerk distribution list. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS DeMoss thanked Acting City Manager Norm Regis and Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell. McClure was happy that Regis was serving as Acting City Manager. She was excited to see what possibilities a new city manager would bring to Seward. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 4, 2020 Volume 41,Page 308 Baclaan appreciated Regis'hard work and Sowell's responsiveness.He asked everyone to be kind to one another. Terry thanked Regis and Sowell. She was sad to hear about the passing of Kevin Schuster from Safeway. Casagranda left the meeting at 6:02 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion(TerryBaclaan) Go into Executive Session regarding the Jesse Lee Home,per SCC 2.10.010(b)(3)matters pertaining to threatened or pending litigation. Motion Passed Unanimous Acting City Manager Norm Regis and Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell were asked to remain. City Attorney Brooks Chandler and Finance Director Sam Hickok were called to attend the executive session. Council went into executive session at 6:02 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 6:17 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 p.m. '9,.,eA AtOctrivel Jessica Stallard, CMC sty Terry Deputy City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) ..*"of gE .,, A. # '•. O 1. •• T ' : .t.." 11 • ( SEAL ti „.. OFA_P'...