Muskogee council holds executive session on city manager and directs staff

The City of Muskogee City Council convened an executive session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(1) to discuss the employment status of the city manager and, upon returning to open session, voted to direct staff as discussed in that closed session.

The motion to call the executive session cited section 307(B)(1) of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the state law provision that allows a public body to meet privately to discuss the employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of a public officer or employee. The motion to convene the executive session carried on a roll-call vote. After the council reconvened in open session, a staff member identified as Katrina summarized the item and said, "An appropriate motion would be to direct staff as discussed in executive session." A subsequent motion to adopt that direction was made, seconded and carried in a roll-call vote with all members recorded voting yes.

Council members present during the votes included Jamie Stout; Tracy Hoose; Shelby Hilton Flannery; C.B. Abel; Melody Cranford; Dan Hall; Tom Martindale; and the council's mayor and deputy mayor (names as recorded in the meeting transcript contained inconsistent spellings). The meeting record shows unanimous affirmative votes on both the motion to convene the executive session and the motion to direct staff on returning to open session. The meeting then was adjourned.

The action taken in open session was limited to directing staff as discussed in the closed session; no additional public details were stated in the transcript about specific personnel actions, terms, or assignments. The council cited the statutory authority for a personnel executive session but did not state any final personnel appointment, termination, or contract terms in open session.

The meeting lasted only a short time on the record; the transcript indicates the council completed the agenda item and adjourned immediately after the vote.