05-23-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 23, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 3. ORONO CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OF APRIL 25, 2016 (continued) Levang stated Council Member Walsh is confounding what transparency means and she takes objection to Council Member Walsh accusing her of being fearful and not doing her job. Levang stated the citizens of the community would say that she does her job and that she takes issue with Council Member Walsh's comments. Walsh stated he is not sure what comment of his she is taking issue with. Levang indicated he made an allegation that she was not doing her job and that she is doing her job. McMillan stated since this issue was raised two weeks ago, she has given it some additional thought. McMillan noted the Council changed the way the work session minutes are prepared in 2015 as requested by Council Member Walsh so they would be more detailed. McMillan stated they are now running into the problem where the minutes are not detailed enough. McMillan noted no votes are taken at work sessions and that the Council has more discussion on policy issues. McMillan stated in her view the City Council is going down the wrong path of making work session minutes so detailed. McMillan read the following statement: "Jessica had a good system prior to2015 that touched generally on topics discussed in the work session and reported on what the consensus of the Council determined. In her note -taking, Jessica wrote about the Council as a whole and did not use individual council members by name. Rather than single anyone out, this is done to create a safe environment if there is any differing views. Many of these views are related to policy discussions where the originator is exploring an issue and may or may not end up in supporting it after hearing from their fellow council members. The intention is not to credit/discredit one person as these sessions are really for the `team' to work out issues, ending up with a consensus to give Jessica direction for further possible actions. The minutes were brief as there are not usually any formal votes taken. It should be an environment where ideas can be developed, worked through, and thought out prior to becoming official council items — both for staff and council. This revised system is creating criticism of the note -taking. This will put further pressure on Jessica and Diane to get it `right' according to what we all heard and council members disputing what was recorded. As Mayor, I am trying hard to maintain a safe environment for all of us to think openly. This act of politicizing our work sessions will slowly shut down any creative thought in our organization. I believe we had an adequate and professional process prior to 2015." McMillan moved, Cornick seconded, to direct the City Administrator to go back to the work session note -taking style that occurred prior to 2015. Page 2 of 23