MOUNT VERNON — Council’s first meeting of 2018 consisted of getting organized, adopting rules of conduct for council meetings and filling positions on various boards and commissions.
During an organizational meeting prior to the legislative session, council members appointed Councilwoman Nancy Vail as President Pro-Tempore. Councilman Sam Barone will run council meetings in the absence of Council President Bruce Hawkins and Vail.
Meetings will continue to be the second and fourth Mondays except for June, July and August. Council plans to meet only on the fourth Mondays in those months unless business requires an additional meeting.
Discussion was held about possibly holding committee meetings on the first and third Mondays and only legislative sessions on the second and fourth Mondays. Barone said committee chairpersons can schedule committee meetings at their discretion. Law Director Rob Broeren reminded council that enough time must be allowed to post public notice of the meetings. Council also agreed to continue to allow public participation during council and committee meetings.
Council appointed Tanya Newell and Lindsey Hoar as clerk of council and assistant clerk of council, respectively. Hawkins will serve as council’s representative on the Audit Review Committee and City Data Board; Councilman Matt Starr will serve ex-officio on the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission, Councilman Jeff Gottke on the Main Street Mount Vernon board and Vail on the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
During its legislative session, council approved community members as volunteers on the following boards and commissions:
- Don Carr, appointed to the Board of Property Maintenance Appeals through Oct. 23, 2020
- Wendy Fetters, reappointed to the Historical Review Commission from Feb. 1 through Feb. 1, 2019
- Ken Reynolds, appointed to Local Board of Tax Review through Jan. 1, 2020
- Greg Drabick, appointed to the Recreation Board through Jan. 8, 2023
At 6:15, council held an executive session to discuss personnel discipline.
