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Council tables clerk appointment after concerns and disclosure of Open Meetings Act complaint
Summary
Council members tabled Emergency Ordinance 2026-05, which would appoint a clerk of council, after members raised questions about whether the personnel committee had formally met and after a council speaker disclosed an Open Meetings Act complaint referencing Feb. 19 and a March date; the item will return at the next meeting.
The South Lebanon City Council on April 16 tabled an emergency ordinance to appoint a clerk of council after several members questioned the accuracy of language saying the city personnel committee "met on April 16" and after a council speaker disclosed that a complaint alleging an Open Meetings Act violation had been filed.
Chase Curtain, listed in the meeting materials as "Chase" and identified in the transcript, informed the council that "we have a complaint that's been filed against the city for an alleged Open Meetings Act violation that occurred on February 19th" and noted there was a second date in March. The speaker said the city was "being proactive" and planned to re-pass legislation out of caution if necessary.
Councilmembers debated whether wording in Emergency Ordinance 2026-05 incorrectly stated that the personnel committee had already met and recommended the appointment. Several councilmembers said they had received packets on April 14 and had not seen evidence of a prior committee meeting that would justify the recital. Council member Linda Allen asked that the recital be removed or that the ordinance be delayed so the committee record could be corrected.
After discussion, a motion to table Emergency Ordinance 2026-05 until the next meeting carried on roll call. Council members said the action would allow staff and the personnel committee to reconcile meeting records and preserve debate time for council review. The transcript records requests to strike or correct the paragraph that asserts the committee "met on April 16," and members explicitly chose to hold the item rather than approve it as an emergency.
No formal appointment was made and no final action on hiring was taken. The ordinance will appear on a future agenda so council can rework the recital language and consider the appointment with clarified committee documentation.
