The Carl Junction Board of Aldermen placed an ordinance on final passage and approved a settlement and release agreement between the city and Marlena Ellington, the board said.

The ordinance, described in the meeting as approving “a settlement and release agreement between the City of Carl Junction, Missouri and Marlena Ellington,” was read by title and moved through first and second readings before the board voted to adopt it. The clerk recorded the ordinance as number 2501. The final vote was seven in favor with one member absent.

A staff speaker described the item as “the settlement that was discussed in closed session,” and added he had nothing further beyond the closed-session discussion. The board approved holding the closed-session minutes and noted those minutes will become public after the settlement is executed.

Board members put the ordinance on first reading, then second reading by title only, and finally on final passage, following standard procedure for adopted ordinances in that meeting. The board chair called for electronic voting; the vote was reported as seven affirmative with one absence.

The meeting record indicates the settlement was discussed in closed session prior to this public vote. Staff said once the settlement and release agreement is signed, the previously approved closed-session minutes related to that discussion will be made public.

The ordinance was assigned number 2501 at the conclusion of the vote. The transcript did not include the settlement amount or further substantive terms; those details were not specified during the public reading and vote.