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Public letter and staff departures stall plan to move Main Street into Community Development
Summary
Council considered an ordinance relocating Main Street from Finance to Community Development but failed to approve it amid public testimony, a formal opposition letter alleging misconduct in Community Development, and council members’ concerns about staffing and service continuity.
The City Council rejected an ordinance (012 of 2025) that would have moved the Main Street program from the Finance Department into Community Development after extended public comments and a council debate about staff departures and program priorities.
Why it matters: Main Street coordinates downtown beautification, event support and day-to-day riverbank and Front Street maintenance. Transferring it between departments affects who directs maintenance work and how events and downtown operations are staffed.
Councilman PT introduced Ordinance No. 012 to amend the personnel manual and move Main Street from Finance to Community Development. Opposition surfaced from Council members and a group of citizens who submitted a written letter dated April 28, 2025, signed by former and current staff and community members. Stacy Lawrence read the letter aloud, saying it requested an independent investigation into "allegations of harassment and the fostering of a hostile work environment, potential violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and incidents of defamation of character" and urged that Main Street not be transferred until an investigation is complete.
Councilman Dale Nelson, citing visible declines in downtown maintenance and recent staff departures, argued against the move and said he preferred leaving Main Street under Finance until staffing questions were resolved. Several council members cited the loss of longtime employees and gaps in beautification work — hanging baskets, riverbank plantings and grounds maintenance — and asked for a measured approach. Finance and community development staff described the practical reasons for the change: Community Development manages event setup, rentals and day-to-day site logistics, and so housing Main Street there could centralize the physical, hands-on tasks.
The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 012 failed on roll call (Eli no; Nelson no; Smith no; Harrington no; PT yes). Council members asked for documentation and for staff to prepare a clearer plan of responsibilities, job descriptions and staffing proposals. The citizen group asked the council to accept their letter and requested a formal, independent review of the Community Development director and operations before any organizational change.
Ending: The council did not move Main Street into Community Development. Members asked staff to return with clearer job descriptions, hiring plans for vacant beautification posts and a recommended timeline for any structural change; the opposition letter will be entered into the record and staff were asked to follow up about procedures for an independent review if the council requests one.
