Santee council reports direction given on city manager matters after five-hour closed session

The Santee City Council held a special meeting Aug. 12 that moved into closed session for several items related to the city manager position and labor negotiations.

“The Special Meeting was called to order by Vice Mayor McNelis at 12:01 p.m.” and council members recessed at 12:01 p.m. and convened in closed session at 12:02 p.m., according to the minutes. The closed-session agenda listed three items: public employment (Title: City Manager) under Gov. Code section 54957, public employee appointment (Title: City Manager) under Gov. Code section 54957, and a conference with labor negotiators under Gov. Code section 54957.6. The minutes name the City-designated representatives as the Council Ad Hoc Negotiating Sub-Committee and identify the subject employee as the “Potential New City Manager.”

Councilmembers reconvened to open session at 5:28 p.m. with all members present. “Mayor Minto reported in regard to Items 1, 2, and 3 direction was given for each item,” the minutes state. The public minutes do not record any formal vote, appointment, contract award, or other final action taken in open session that day.

Attendance and timing recorded in the minutes show Mayor Minto arriving at 12:03 p.m. and Councilmember Ronn Hall arriving at 12:10 p.m., both while the body was in closed session. Interim City Manager Gary Halbert, City Attorney Shawn Hagerty, and City Clerk James Jeffries are listed as officers present. The meeting was adjourned at 5:29 p.m.

The minutes note the governing authority used for the closed-session items (California Government Code sections 54957 and 54957.6). The minutes do not specify next steps, the content of the direction given in closed session, or any timeline for a public appointment or contract; those details were not included in the open-session report.