By Anne Thom

The Stacy City Council held a work session on Tuesday, May 29 to try to bury the hatchet and put an end to councilors grinding the axe. Mayor John Daher related the story of why he first ran for the Stacy City Council seat he held prior to being elected mayor. Daher said he attended a council meeting one evening and witnessed three people arguing over a cell phone for several hours. Daher had enough. He feels that the council has been spending too much time trying to talk over one another instead of trying to talk through city business and stay on task at meetings.

"We may not agree but it doesn't mean we can't move forward with the business of the city." he said. Councilor Robert "Bud" Wilson said "It wouldn't be a very good council if we all agreed on everything." He felt some of the dialogue was valuable and is in favor of everyone being able to state an opinion.

Everyone at the table could agree with the mayor "We should all be here for the same reason, the betterment of the city, even though we may not agree on how to get there." Daher decried the efficiency of the rumor mill in the city that distorts what has actually been stated or printed. City Clerk Sharon Payne said she would appreciate it if councilors heard that she said or did something that they first come to her for confirmation.

The council discussed then that an individual councilor should not approach a city employee with requests to do something or directives. The mayor explained for the benefit of those new to the council that "collectively we are their boss" and that if there is work direction given it must be given as a group. He was careful to add though that this doesn't mean individual council members cannot have individual discussion with city employees as they are trying to go about city business.

Daher said if there are issues with the job performance of a city employee, the proper time to address that is at review time, in a closed session. There have been recent as well as past instances of one councilor requesting a city employee take on a task without notifying the rest of the council and confusion results for the employees as well as the council.

This can have a financial impact in the case of contract employees such as City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer or City Engineer Chuck Schwartz. Daher said he would encourage any member of this council to ask another councilor about anything

The council does not want to shut the public out, but it was brought up as another issue that at council meetings during the public comment time, some people tend to "go on for 20 minutes." The council wants to institute a sign-up sheet for public comment at council meetings. Daher thought a sign-in sheet could be utilized and then only those who had signed in would be recognized during public comment time. Payne mentioned that the city of Harris now limits public comment to 10 people each meeting.

Councilor Mel Aslakson said he is aware that the city cannot require citizens to leave their names when calling. When the council met on May 22, there was some discussion as to whether the council should take anonymous complaints. It was ultimately recognized it is the obligation of a public official to hear all citizens, identified or not who wish to comment on city business.

Councilor Tony Olivolo said that as soon as he appears at work, he seems to have people coming around asking him questions about city business rather than about the auto business he is employed in.

Clerk Sharon Payne told Olivolo that he is within his rights, even as a public official, to explain to citizens that he is at work and they should contact him later.

Mayor Daher said that he gets phone calls at home "all of the time," and does try to steer individuals to attend a council meeting to speak their minds.

Payne acknowledged there are some citizens who make a habit of complaining and some who keep coming back because they do not hear whether their complaint was addressed.