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Hertford council adopts resolution barring officials and staff from serving as Downtown Hertford officers
Summary
Following public comment and closed-session deliberations, the council adopted a resolution prohibiting Town elected officials and paid staff from serving as chair, vice chair, treasurer or secretary of Downtown Hertford, Inc.; the measure passed 5-0 and a Town contractor (Janice McKenzie Cole) said she resigned prior to the vote.
HERTFORD — On May 11 the Hertford Town Council voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution that prevents Town elected officials and paid Town staff from serving as chair, vice chair, treasurer, or secretary of Downtown Hertford, Inc.
The motion, offered by Councilman Evan Copeland and seconded by Councilman Keith Rouse after the council returned from closed session, reads in part: "No Town of Hertford elected official, or paid full-time or part-time staff member, shall serve as Downtown Hertford, Inc. Board Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, or Secretary. The aforementioned may otherwise participate as regular Board members." The motion carried unanimously.
Earlier in the meeting Janice McKenzie Cole addressed the council to clarify that her paid contracted work for the Town never included volunteer work for the Downtown Hertford Board and said she had tendered her resignation as a paid contractor because the proposed resolution limited how she could volunteer. "She clarified that her paid contracted work for the Town has never included any of her volunteer work, including that on the Downtown Hertford Board. She has tendered her resignation to Manager Walton," the minutes state.
Council amended the meeting agenda after returning from closed session to allow the resolution vote. The action restricts officer roles but allows elected officials and staff to remain as regular board members if they choose to do so. The minutes do not record objections or amendments to the motion during the open session debate.
