Council forms recruitment subcommittee, agrees to record public meetings

The Independence City Council voted unanimously to create a recruitment subcommittee to lead the national search for a new city manager and to require that open meetings of that subcommittee be recorded and archived for public viewing.

Council Member Stewart introduced the resolution establishing the subcommittee and moved to add an amendment requiring that open meetings be recorded and posted: “Open meetings of the subcommittee will be recorded, archived, and made available for public viewing,” Stewart said when offering the amendment. The motion to amend carried 7-0, and the main resolution then passed 7-0.

Council discussion clarified the intent and logistics of the recordings. A council member asked whether the recordings needed to be live-streamed or simply recorded for later posting; the City Manager and staff recommended recording the meetings as Microsoft Teams meetings and making them available on the city website and the citys YouTube channel so the public could view them at their convenience.

Staff also said facilities and equipment options could include using Conference Room A with the citys existing audio/visual setup or having members join from personal computers to improve audio quality. City staff noted that portions of recruitment work that involve personnel matters may be closed under Missouri sunshine law and state statute; those closed portions would not be recorded for public viewing, the council was told.

Council members described the subcommittees scope as preparing the request for proposals to hire a search firm, establishing contract deliverables and timelines, developing public-engagement approaches, and preparing screening processes so the full council could interview finalists. The resolution was described as a working committee to perform preparatory tasks ahead of full-council action.

The resolution passed by roll call with seven votes in favor and none opposed.