Council adopts resolution adding Director of Finance role, approves wage-review language and moves to executive session

The City Council voted to adopt Resolution 2025-06 amending the municipal personnel policy to add new job descriptions for a Director of Finance and a finance assistant, clarify the duties of the city recorder and treasurer, and revise financial controls including bonding and check-signing procedures.

Council discussion focused on separating duties now handled by the recorder, aligning municipal code language with state law, and setting a framework for wage adjustments tied to certifications. Speaker 4 explained that "under state law, city recorders have certain responsibilities which include payroll and accounts payable" and proposed allowing a separate Director of Finance role that could be filled by an individual or a consulting firm.

Council members debated how merit and market adjustments should operate. Speaker 2 urged that cost-of-living and market adjustments should generally be processed at one time each year but acknowledged circumstances (promotions or midyear hires) where adjustments might be made sooner. During the exchange, Speaker 5 objected to a policy that would charge struggling residents a fee to have water service restored, saying, "I don't like that idea because they already don't have enough money." Council discussion noted payment-plan options and that customers who set up a payment schedule can have service restored.

The personnel-policy edits also cover bonding requirements for employees who handle city funds and propose clarifying which positions may prepare checks while preserving a two-signature signing process for disbursements. Speakers discussed changing code language from "shall prepare" to "may prepare" for check preparation and identified multiple potential signers to maintain continuity when staff are absent.

At the formal action, Speaker 2 moved to adopt Resolution 2025-06 "amending the personnel policy to include additional job descriptions," and the motion was seconded (the record indicates Councilman Childs as a seconder). Members identified on the record as voting "Yes" include Childs, Warren, Crane, Hill and Anderson. The chair announced adoption of the resolution. The council then agreed to move into an executive session to discuss personnel matters, with Speaker 2 formally moving to convene the executive session on "professional competence or physical or mental health of an individual."

The resolution establishes the updated job descriptions and authorizes the administrative changes discussed; further details about implementation, specific wage scales, and any administrative rules for awarding certification increments were referred to staff for follow-up. The council adjourned the public portion of the meeting to an executive session on personnel.