HomeMy WebLinkAbout04272023 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
April 27, 2023 Volume 42,Page 299
CALL TO ORDER
The April 27, 2023 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 5:30
p.m. by Mayor McClure.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Sergeant Patrick Messmer led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Sue McClure,presiding and
John Osenga Liz DeMoss
Mike Calhoon Randy Wells
Kevin Finch Robert Barnwell
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Janette Bower, City Manager
Brenda Ballou, City Clerk
Excused—None
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Lynda Paquette, outside the city, hoped that council would include information in the
recruitment brochure that outlined the type of person that Seward was looking for. She suggested
including language that the ideal candidate would be honest, trustworthy, transparent, a good
communicator,someone interested in building bridges rather than walls,have an open door policy,
and accepting of all regardless of age,gender,etc.Paquette thought that understanding the dynamics
of this community was important; people living outside the city considered themselves part of the
city. She wanted the city administration to make sure that all people felt welcome, regardless of
politics or sexual orientation; some people in town used religion as a way to divide the community.
The language in the brochure needed to emphasize that Seward was open to a diverse and dynamic
community; she didn't want this community to slip backwards in its thinking.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (DeMoss/Osenga) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
April 27, 2023 Volume 42,Page 300
There were no consent agenda items.
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business
Review and approve the position announcement,job description and salary range,proposed
advertising plan,and draft recruitment materials for the city's effort to hire a new permanent
city manager.
Wells suggested including a list of the city's current projects and corresponding statuses for
applicants to understand what was happening in Seward. McClure thought that was a great idea.
DeMoss concurred and suggested also including the legislative priorities. Human Resources
Manager Tammy Nickell said she would include that information in the recruitment brochure list.
By unanimous consent,council chose to forego newspaper print advertising and focus on electronic
advertising. Council requested HR research online advertising options, and set a$500 advertising
expenditure limit.
Rather than requiring a writing sample of an accomplishment,council requested applicants include a
written statement about how the applicant anticipated incorporating themselves into the city and
community; the essay was capped at 500 words or less.
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By unanimous consent,council requested that completed applications be sent to council upon receipt
by the HR manager for review.Following the application period closure,council would schedule a
special meeting to determine which candidates they wanted to interview.
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSES TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Bower appreciated council's collaboration and dialogue tonight.
Finch enjoyed going through the interview process.
Barnwell thought this was a fun collaborative process.There was a bright future for Seward.
Calhoon looked forward to seeing applications and encouraged anyone who was interested
to apply.
Wells was grateful for the opportunity to go through this process,and he appreciated the city
manager's contributions.
DeMoss thanked administration, the city clerk, and the HR manager for putting these
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
April 27, 2023 Volume 42, Page 301
materials together. She thanked the city manager for her service.
Osenga thanked the HR manager for putting together a good packet.
McClure reported she had hosted a class of fourth graders in council chambers earlier this
week, and had provided a demonstration of how to run a meeting. She thanked the HR manager for
her work.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Brenda J. Bal , MMC Sue McClure
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