Four meetings involving the Altus City Council and administration in less than 24 hours confused some citizens who saw the meeting notices at City Hall. People who follow Council proceedings are used to the Altus Municipal Authority (AMA) and the Council meetings being held in succession. Those meetings will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m.

The notice for the April 16 meeting was for a “Workshop/Meeting for City Staff and Council Members.” According to Altus Mayor David Webb, these workshops, which are staff meetings, are held every Monday before the City Council meetings. The information on the notice said, “This workshop is to provide information and for discussion of agenda items only and no vote or action will be taken by the City Council. It is anticipated that a quorum of Council members could be present at this workshop.”

According to Mayor Webb, the other notice was for a meeting that was requested by a City Council member. The posting for the April 17, 1:30 p.m. meeting said, “Consider, discuss and vote to amend the Policies and Procedures Manual (sections 101 and 904.02) regarding the disciplining up to and including termination of Department Heads.” It continues, “Consider, discuss, and vote to make recommendation to the Council for approval (by Resolution) of the changes to these sections discussed.”

Mayor Webb said, “We were all concerned about the timing of this meeting,” however, he added it is important to provide information to the council members. The meeting was an attempt to provide information on administrative roles and actions in an employee termination. Neither the requesting council member nor Webb are members of this Task Force Committee, Webb said.

He said he has recommended to the committee that no changes made to the City Policies and Procedures Manual regarding termination of employees. Webb said in an interview this morning, “Regardless of the current Dan Scott situation or of any other employee, we have a legal opinion; it hasn’t changed.”