West Jefferson council amends ordinance 26-040 to replace Recreation and Special Events Manager with Parks and Recreation Superintendent

The West Jefferson council recalled the reading of ordinance 26-040 and voted to amend its language to remove the Recreation and Special Events Manager title and create a Parks and Recreation Superintendent position, a motion moved by Ms. Warner and seconded by Greg.

Council member Ray told colleagues the amendment was returned to the floor after prior votes left some members unable to participate; he said the change had been discussed for about a year and was brought back so members who missed the earlier vote could take part. "I mean, we all know what this is about and there's no funny — I don't want anybody to think there's any funny business going on," Ray said, arguing the council should give the employee and the membership another chance to decide.

The clerk reread the amendment to ensure the motion's wording was correct. The clerk said the amendment would modify whereas language to state that the Employee Benefits Committee recommended eliminating the Park and Rec Recreation and Special Events Manager position and creating a Parks and Recreation Superintendent. Council members debated whether the action would create a new position or replace the old one; the prevailing explanation was that the amendment eliminates the prior title and replaces it with the superintendent title so the role is not added as a separate position but reclassified.

During the roll call, several members announced abstentions and offered reasons on the record. Payton stated she would abstain. One member said they were abstaining because the person whose job description was changing paid them to coach travel softball; another said they could not vote because they considered the affected employee "like a son" and had helped raise him. Ms. Warner recorded her vote in favor. After the clerk announced the results of the roll call, the clerk stated, "Motion carries."

The council was advised that this amendment vote was to change the ordinance language and was not the final ordinance approval. The clerk and members reiterated that, by charter, the ordinance itself will require an affirmative vote of four members at the formal ordinance vote.

The council did not take a final ordinance-reading vote during this session; the amendment to the draft was adopted and will be reflected in the ordinance when it returns for the required vote.