LAKEPORT — The Lakeport City Council Tuesday voted 3-2 to approve the city manager”s request for an exemption from the city”s hiring freeze for the purpose of hiring a replacement finance director.
The council addressed the hiring freeze during Tuesday evening”s regular meeting at Lakeport City Hall.
City Manager Margaret Silveira told the council that filling the position, which has been vacant since September, would be “critical to the city”s financial well-being.”
The council directed Silveira to recruit a replacement on a temporary, part-time, full-time or consultant basis, depending on the applicant pool and the city”s needs. Silveira said the finance director position has been included in the current year”s budget.
Councilman Tom Engstrom said that it would send “a bad message” to the community and city employees for the city to hire a full-time finance director at this time because of the state”s fluctuating budget situation.
Silveira told the council she “would like a full-time position” to advertise to potential applicants, partly because the city has had little success informally recruiting a part-time or temporary finance director since September.
The city has used an out-of-town consultant to assist with its finances in the interim, spending nearly $30,000 on financial consulting, Silveira said, adding that it”s been “a struggle” for the city to receive accurate and timely financial reports.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said the finance director “seems to be a critically important position” and “I don”t really think we should limp along,” referring to the city”s current practice of relying on consultants.
Mattina, Mayor Suzanne Lyons and Councilman Bob Rumfelt voted in favor of the exemption. Engstrom and Councilman Roy Parmentier dissented.
Redevelopment Agency Director Richard Knoll introduced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city, the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency and the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts regarding the proposed new county courthouse.
The proposed 51,000-square foot facility would be located on Lakeport Boulevard in Lakeport.
The MOU outlined the city”s response to the project”s draft initial study. City staff found some issues with the study, including the project”s potential effect on the city”s water and sewer systems, storm water runoff, vehicle traffic and trash storage.
The council unanimously approved the MOU.
Knoll also introduced a proposed agreement between the city and Ruzicka Associates for professional services for the Green Ranch parcel survey. The city plans to create a seven-acre parcel on the Green Ranch property on Scotts Valley Road for municipal purposes.
The city currently operates a municipal water production wellhead on the property and the seven-acre area would include that wellhead, according to Knoll.
The council unanimously approved the contract for $7,069 with Ruzicka for surveying and other services.
A 70-minute workshop on the Brown Act preceded Tuesday”s council meeting. City Clerk Janel Chapman gave a PowerPoint presentation and led a discussion with council members regarding the Brown Act, the California law concerning public access to local legislative meetings.
The city generally holds Brown Act workshops every other year, Chapman said, which provides “an overview” for old council members and “an education” for new members.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
