Excelsior Springs council adopts written decision denying Oxford House reasonable-accommodation request

The Excelsior Springs City Council on Aug. 18 adopted a written decision denying a reasonable-accommodation request submitted by Oxford House, a recovery-home organization. The council approved Resolution No. 1600 to make the council's prior findings and conclusions official. The action formalizes a decision that the council announced after a public hearing on July 22 and a reconvened council vote Aug. 12, according to city staff. The written decision, attached to the resolution, spells out the council's findings and conclusions in denying the application. City Manager Molly McGovern brought the written-decision resolution to the council, explaining the administrative steps: the council considered testimony from the applicant and public comment during the July 22 hearing and reconvened Aug. 12 to decide. "At that time, the city council voted to deny the request," Molly McGovern said as she described the purpose of the written decision. Council members moved and seconded approval of Resolution No. 1600 and voted in roll-call fashion; Councilman Speer, Councilman McGovern, Mayor Pro Tem St. John and Mayor Spahn each voted yes and the resolution was approved. The adoption is procedural: the council did not reopen the public hearing on Aug. 18 and the resolution adopts the council's previously reached denial. The council did not discuss additional modifications to the decision at the Aug. 18 meeting. Copies of the written decision were made part of the public record as an attachment to Resolution No. 1600.