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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-01-31 City Council Special MinutesCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 31,1994 The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona,was held on January 31,1994,at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Perkins called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmen Present:Mayor Perkins Vice Mayor Barker Councilwoman Richmond Councilman Hendricks Councilman Perkins Councilman Coleman Councilman Cox Staff Present:City Manager Michael R.Lee City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Glenn Gimbut Assistant City Manager George Hoffman Captain Dan Scott Public Works Supt.Doug Dobson Parks & Rec.Director Jeff Bell Housing & Grants Coord.John Flumerfelt Finance Director Keith Lewis Library Director Pam Loui DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE )Vice Mayor Barker stated that city ordinance grants the City Council the authority to appoint all department heads,both acting and permanent.She MOVED THAT THE COUNCIL PUBLICLY SHOW THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT BY APPOINTING CAPTAIN DAN SCOTT AS ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE UNTIL A NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS HIRED AND HAS REPORTED TO DUTY. Councilman Perkins SECONDED THE MOTION. Mayor Perkins congratulated Capt. Scott and stated she hoped to build a confidence between the police department SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 31,1994 PAGE 1 OF 6 and Council members under his leadership.She recognized some of the police officers who were present and asked that they introduce themselves.She expressed the Council's support for the police department and commended them for doing their job well. Councilman Hendricks offered his assistance and support to Capt.Scott as a liaison for the police department. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING INTERNAL PROMOTION FOR A SERGEANT POSITION )Vice Mayor Barker stated that the Council has expressed confidence and support in Captain Scott and his endeavors as interim chief.Therefore,she MOVED THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE DIRECTED TO DIRECT THE INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE TO USE HIS BEST DISCRETION IN THIS AREA. Councilman Coleman SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. Councilman Hendricks stated that the majority of the Council has dedicated to proving the people of this community that hopefully the "underhanded back -room deals"that used to be the norm are over." Councilman Coleman disagreed with Councilman Hendricks stating that during the time he has been on the Council, he has not known that to be the case;he questioned how it was possible that the majority of the Council does not want positions filled since he does not remember having discussed it in a public meeting;that personnel policy such as hiring,freezes,promotions,have to be discussed in a public meeting.He further disagreed with the shceduling of this meeting without consulting all of the Council members and without discussing it in a public meeting.Then he asked when the majority of the Council made that request. Councilman Hendricks answered that Councilman Coleman would have to ask City Manager Mike Lee about it;that he discussed it with him on an individual basis but not with anyone else from the Council being present;and his main concern was the public's perception and not any demotions,firings or anything like that. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 31,1994 PAGE 2 OF 6 Councilman Coleman replied that i t should have been put on the agenda for a public meeting;that he did not know how a majority of the Council did this when only Councilman Hendricks expressed his concerns to Mr.Lee. Councilman Hendricks answered that obviously other Council members talked to Mr.Lee about it too. Councilman Perkins stated that i t was illegal and not according to the City Code;that a memo naming Councilman Hendricks,Mayor Perkins,Vice Mayor Barker,and Councilwoman Richmond, directed Mr.Lee to put on a hiring freeze;but himself,Councilman Cox,and Councilman Coleman were not included in any type of discussion. Councilman Coleman stated he really wanted to work with Councilman Hendricks but he had to be included in the discussions if that was to take place. Mayor Perkins explained that she did not know about Councilman Cox,Councilman Perkins,and Councilman Coleman,but other members of the Council were receiving calls from the public telling them what was going to occur in the police department without first having the City Manager discuss it with the Council.She explained she felt that all promotions should be given by the new chief of police and that it would instill confidence in the department and it would be a welcoming to the new chief of police as well.She further explained she tried to contact Councilman Perkins at work but she was unsuccessful. Councilman Perkins replied they do not stay at the fire station 24 hours a day because of fire and emergency service calls. Mayor Perkins stated she also tried to contact Councilman Coleman at home but he was not there and then she wondered if people were also trying to contact him about the matter;that she did not call Councilman Cox because she was not sure if he would be home. Councilman Cox replied Mayor Perkins would have gotten his answering service if she had called him. Mayor Perkins added that Councilman Cox's wife could have reminded him and kept reminding him until the meeting. Councilman Perkins disagreed with Mayor Perkins that it was in the best interest that promotions or advancements be held off until a new chief arrived;that proper legal and certified testing had already taken place since the positions were open;that it was up to the City Manager to decide on that and he okayed it;that there were no back -room dealings here,but promotions were granted legally and fairly and there was no SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 31,1994 PAGE 3 OF 6 reason for the Council to be dealing with the issue but with the designation of interim chief of police only. Councilman Hendricks stated that he was concerned with public perception and if he gets calls about it,he is going to do something and not sit back. Councilman Perkins suggested that Councilman Hendricks bring the matter to an open meeting. Councilman Hendricks stated that the Council did not have any meetings in December but one. Mayor Perkins stated she will be scheduling many meetings and possibly special meetings if they are going to straighten the City out and in fact that we have cooperation among the Council,city staff,and the police department.She stated that an attitude of "them and us"should not exist in the organization. City Manager Mike Lee clarified that the only Council member he recalls having any conversations with about the desire to postpone promotions until the new chief was on board was Councilman Hendricks,but he did not understand that Councilman Hendricks was speaking for any other Council member;that he asked Councilwoman Richmond if she had said anything to him about that but she answered no and that she thought i t was maybe some discussion that took place in some general meeting,but he did not recall;that he neither remembered Vice Mayor Barker nor Mayor Perkins talking to him about it. Mayor Perkins replied that Mr.Lee does not remember either that two weeks ago she asked to have a meeting with Captain Scott and another officer but that never came to being so i t is possible that they are not communicating well., Vice Mayor Barker stated that they have a public agenda concerning internal promotions and that Mayor Perkins has the right to call a meeting:that she mentioned something to Mr.Hoffman,Mr. Gimbut,and to Mayor Perkins;that she was concerned about the public perception and simply wanted it to be a public action where the Council said "yes,we are with you"and back up Captain Dan Scott and this was done because of the concerns that Councilman Perkins has expressed as well as Councilman Hendricks;that any time that Council members call the Mayor to express a concern,if the Mayor feels there is enough concern in there,then she has the right to call a meeting.She further ratified that Captain Scott was the best possible choice for an interim chief. Mayor Perkins suggested to members of the press who were in the audience to do an interview of Captain Scott. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 31,1994 PAGE 4 OF 6 ADJOURNMENT )Mayor Perkins adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. ACCEPTED THIS 15TH COUNCIL OF THE CITY SIGNED AND ATTESTED ATTEST: DAY OF FEBRUARY ,1994,BY THE MAYOR AND CITY ZONA.OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARL TO THIS 16TH DAY OF 6,„•/KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 31,1994 PAGE 5 OF 6 FEBRUARY ,1994. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction,Arizona,held on the 31st day of January,1994.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 1st day of February,1994. kFHLEEN CO City Clerk z i ctrlY r SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 31,1994 PAGE 6 OF 6