Council approves mayoral appointments after debate over closed-session request

At a meeting of the City of Superior Common Council, members approved two mayoral appointments, including Mayor Hagen’s appointment of Linda Cadotte as Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director, and the reappointment of Chad Matusiak to the liability claims committee. The council debated whether discussion of the parks director appointment should take place in closed session and whether the position should have been advertised or opened to internal candidates.

The appointments were placed before the council as separate agenda items. Mayor Hagen presented the reappointment of Chad Matusiak to the liability claims committee for a three‑year term ending July 2018; the council moved and seconded the reappointment and approved it. The mayor then introduced Linda Cadotte’s appointment as Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director, effective April 7, 2016. The council moved, discussed and ultimately approved that appointment.

The appointment prompted contested discussion about process and transparency. Councilor Dalbec said, “I think we need to be open with the public as much as we can. And if we’re gonna start taking any kind of issues like this to closed session, I think we’re doing the public a disservice, in my opinion.” Councilor Esterdalberg said she objected because the position had not been advertised and she wanted to “have somebody in that same department have a chance” to apply; she noted there were “only 7 or 8” people in the parks department beyond one named staffer who was asked about interest.

Other council members defended the mayor’s appointments and a practice of promoting from within. A speaker identifying themselves as having served as mayor previously and speaking in support of the appointment said the mayor has historically had the authority to select administration staff and that the council’s role is to approve or disapprove those appointments. Mayor Hagen said of Cadotte, “I have great faith in her, and I want her part of my administration.”

Council members attempted to move the parks appointment discussion into closed session; that motion was ruled impermissible because it had not been noticed on the agenda, and the motion to send the matter to closed session at a future meeting was withdrawn. The council instead proceeded with the open vote and approved Cadotte’s appointment.

Formal actions recorded on the meeting record show the reappointment of Chad Matusiak and the approval of Linda Cadotte as Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director. The meeting transcript records objections about the lack of advertisement for the parks position, repeated reminders from council members that the mayor’s appointment authority is established in the city ordinance, and a request from at least one councilor to consider changing the appointment process by ordinance if the council wished to require competitive posting.

The council did not hold an announced closed session on the appointments during the meeting. The appointment actions were carried by voice vote.