Keene council approves updated organizational chart amid questions about city secretary reporting line

The Keene City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 4 to approve an updated organizational chart for the city (consent agenda item 6e), after members questioned whether the chart’s flow lines conflicted with the city charter’s language about the city secretary.

Councilmember Guo raised a concern that the chart could be read to show the city secretary reporting to the city manager, while the charter (section 5.03, as cited in the discussion) states the council shall appoint the city secretary, who “shall report [to] the city council.” City Manager Jonathan Seitz said the line in the chart was not intended to change reporting relationships and that the marketing coordinator position needed to be shown; he offered to adjust the lines so the chart would not be misread.

Council discussed whether the chart constituted a conflict with the charter and whether council should instruct staff on the precise visual depiction. Some council members said the flowchart was “crystal clear” if one understood standard flowchart conventions, while others said the visual needed to be corrected to avoid perception problems.

Despite the debate, Councilman Rob Foster made a motion to accept consent agenda items A, B and C and to approve item 6e as presented; the motion was seconded by Councilman Easley and carried unanimously. Council directed staff to correct visual lines if they create ambiguity but did not delay approval.

The council also noted that one of the consent agenda contracts (6d) was removed from the packet and would be brought back at the next meeting.