Council Chambers

                                                                                                Municipal Building

                                                                                                February 1, 2007

The McAlester City Council met in Special Session on Thursday, February 1, 2007, at 6:15 P.M. after proper notice and agenda was posted January 30, 2007, at 5:47 P.M.

Present:            Don Lewis, Sam Mason, Buddy Garvin, Greg Rock, Travis Read, Donnie Condit & Robert Ivester

Absent:             Councilman Wilkinson

Presiding:          Don Lewis, Mayor

Mayor Lewis called the Special Session to order.

Councilman Garvin moved to recess the Special Session for an Executive Session to discuss and evaluate Assistant City Manager, Bart Van Nieuwenhuise in accordance with Title 25, Sec. 307.B.1.  The motion was seconded by Mayor Lewis.

Before the vote, Councilman Read stated that he had looked in the Charter and he did not see anything that allowed the Council to evaluate the Assistant City Manager.  He further stated the Council could have appointed Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise as Acting City Manager and then the Council could evaluate him but the Council did not appoint him. 

Councilman Rock stated that he agreed with Councilman Read, that Section 2-5 read that the Council could only deal with the City Manager and not interfere with any employee subordinate to the City Manager.

There was discussion concerning the City Attorney’s opinion, that Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise had actually been acting as the City Manager even though he was never appointed to that position.  It was also suggested that since the new City Manager was going to be coming on board February 26, that it might be best to wait until then and have another meeting with him and Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise.

Mayor Lewis explained that if the Council did not wish to go into an Executive Session they would need to vote no.

There was no further discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:

AYE:  None

NAY:  Councilman Mason, Read, Rock, Condit, Wilkinson, Garvin & Mayor Lewis

Mayor Lewis declared the motion failed, for lack of a majority.                         

There being no further business for the Council to discuss Councilman Mason moved for the Special meeting to be adjourned.  Councilman Condit seconded the motion, and the vote was taken as follows:

AYE:  Councilman Wilkinson, Mason, Condit, Garvin, Rock, Read & Mayor Lewis

NAY:  None

Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried, and the Special Session was adjourned at 6:20 P.M.

Attest:

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    Don R. Lewis, Mayor

________________________________

Cora Middleton, City Clerk