Lenox council advances peddler-permit ordinance, approves consent agenda and amends police overtime policy

The Lenox City Council approved a series of routine items and advanced changes to municipal rules at a council meeting. Chair S2 opened the session and the council approved the consent agenda, which included special-event permits and multiple personnel actions.

Staff member S1 outlined key consent-agenda items, saying the Lions Club Firecracker Road Race (item 3.11) has been rerouted this year because of construction on Highway 14 and has obtained a DOT permit and coordination with fire, police and ambulance services. S1 also summarized personnel actions under item 3.12: promotions of two seasonal lifeguards (Gavin Berlin and Brianna Slack) and the hiring of Caitlin Vargas; S1 said another lifeguard remains out with an injury. S1 reported that EMT Paige Halligan has finished paramedic training with scholarship support and will be promoted to part-time paramedic when her license is issued.

S2 called for approval of the consent agenda. S5 moved to approve and S2 seconded; during roll call S2 named Kizzi, Darrell, Doherty, Sweeter, Welch and Peterson, each recorded as voting “aye.” The chair declared the motion carried.

On item 4.1, the council took Ordinance 669 on peddler permits from the table. S3 moved to remove the ordinance from the table; S1 said the amendments discussed at the prior meeting are reflected in the revised ordinance and that the measure is intended to address door-to-door vendors and to clarify permit procedures for food trucks and similar vendors. The council voted by voice and S2 said the motion carried; the ordinance advanced as amended (the transcript identifies this as a first-reading style action).

In new business, S2 introduced an amendment to the personnel/overtime policy required to ensure alignment with grant language. Police Chief Will Erickson (S4) told the council that the edits are largely verbiage changes to match what state grantors want. “As I indicated in my memo that there is no significant changes to this, we are currently already doing everything that we need to do for this grant,” S4 said, adding that HR and outside consultants had reviewed the draft. S1 moved to amend the personnel policies as presented, S3 seconded, and the motion carried by voice vote.

Before adjourning into closed session, S2 requested a motion to enter executive session to consult with legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation and contractual matters under SDCL 1-21-2.3 and for personnel under SDCL 1-25-2.1. The council moved into executive session at 7:17 p.m.

What’s next: the council advanced Ordinance 669 and amended personnel policy language; the meeting record shows the council then entered executive session for legal and personnel matters. If the council returns to open session with additional votes or actions, those outcomes will be recorded in subsequent minutes.