The Clarkdale Town Council met in a special session Oct. 28 and, following an executive session under Arizona law, directed staff to prepare a positive annual evaluation letter for the town manager to be presented at the council's next meeting.

The council called the special meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. at the Clark Memorial Clubhouse and voted unanimously to enter executive session under Arizona Revised Statutes 738-431.03(A)(1), (A)(3) and (A)(7) to discuss personnel and receive legal advice and to instruct representatives on negotiations involving real property. Vice Mayor Hunstetter moved to enter executive session and Council Member Jones seconded; the motion carried with all members saying "aye."

After returning to open session at 2:57 p.m., the council announced it had two items on the agenda. On the first item, the council said it would move forward with a "positive annual evaluation letter" for the town manager and that the letter will be presented at the next regular meeting. The council did not record a separate formal vote on that letter during the open meeting.

The action taken on the town manager's evaluation followed the executive-session discussion authorized under ARS 738-431.03(A)(1), which permits discussion of employment and personnel matters in executive session. The council did not provide details in open session about the substance of the evaluation or any salary or contract changes.

Council members present at the special meeting included Mayor Prudhom Bauer, Vice Mayor Hunstetter, Council Member O'Neil, Council Member Babbitt Pierce and Council Member Jones. The meeting was adjourned at 2:58 p.m.