Council creates Search and Transition committee


City Attorney John Zollicoffer began this portion of Monday night’s meeting of the Henderson City Council by advising the council that those outside of city government cannot be privy to job applications. They way around it, he told the council, is to name outsiders to a search committee and designate that committee as an official body of the city so it can review personnel records.

Council member Garry Daeke asked if there was a need to ask members of that committee to sign confidentiality forms. Zollicoffer responded that it was definitely a good idea. He also mentioned that the release of confidential information is a misdemeanor.

Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert said that he would have the city attorney tell the Search and Transition Committee the “do’s and don’ts”.

The motion to create the Search and Transition Committee as an official government body passed with council member Bernard Alston opposed.

Following the vote, council member Elissa Yount requested that a special meeting of the City Council be scheduled for December 30, 2005. She stated that the meeting could be cancelled, if necessary. The sole purpose of the special meeting would be to appoint an interim city manager.

Council member Lonnie Davis asked what would happen if there was not a quorum of council members at the special meeting. Zollicoffer responded that only five members are needed, including the mayor.

The Search and Transition Committee will meet on December 28, 2005 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in closed session. Presumably, the committee will deliberate on choosing a candidate for interim city manager to bring before the council.