The Council Grove City Council met in special session Tuesday evening, with most of the meeting held behind closed doors under the Kansas Open Meetings Act exception for personnel matters of non-elected personnel.
The meeting began with a motion to recess into executive session with the mayor, council, City Attorney Brian Henderson and Utilities Superintendent Derrick Craige to discuss employee retention matters. The motion cited K.S.A. 75-4319(b), personnel matters of non-elected personnel. Council members Jason Booker and Sharon Haun voted against entering the session. The motion passed, 4-2.
Before the vote, City Administrator Nick Jones objected to the process, saying the council was not following established policies and procedures. Jones said his employee contract was “very clear” on how the matter was supposed to be handled and called the action “a violation of the contract.”
Mayor Ryan McDonald questioned what policy was not being followed, and City Attorney Brian Henderson said nothing in Jones’ contract prevented the council from entering executive session without him to discuss personnel matters.
Henderson also cautioned the council not to discuss employee grievances in open session after a council member asked Craige how long he had had a grievance. Craige responded, “Almost eight years.”
Henderson said there is a grievance process in the city’s employment policy, but he added that nothing legally prevented the council from entering executive session at that time. He said the issue was “not illegal,” but said it was “not right,” and advised the council that employee matters should not be discussed publicly.
The council then went into executive session with Craige, the mayor, council and city attorney. After returning to open session, McDonald stated that no action had been taken.
The council then entered a second executive session with Craige, the mayor, council and city attorney. After returning to open session, the council again took no action.
The council then entered a final executive session for 20 minutes with the mayor, council, city attorney and City Administrator Nick Jones. Craige was not included in that session. After returning to open session, the council took no action.
Before adjournment, Councilor Stephen McKnight thanked those in attendance and said more discussion remained ahead.
The meeting was then adjourned.