The Oklahoma State Capital

Empty chairs and a vacant council chamber greeted Guthrie councilors as they returned from a long three-hour executive session Tuesday night. During the executive session, councilors evaluated and considered the employment status of the City Judge, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Manager.

The council has the authority to convene in executive session to evaluate the performance of these officers. An executive session can not be attended by members of the press or the public. This evaluation occurs on a yearly basis. Last year the council not only retained but took action to raise the salaries of the four city officers. The City Charter gives the authority for the appointment for these four individuals directly to council.

Tuesday night after council returned to order at 12:20 a.m., Ward III Councilor Grant Aguirre moved that all city employees under consideration be retained for the next year. This was seconded and unanimously approved by council. The act did not change or allot raises to any of the four officer's salaries. No reason was given by the council members for the length of time it took to evaluate the officers.

In other action, the city council officially voted to approve a new agreement with Logan County to provide a civil defense program on the county level. During the June 6 meeting, the city staff had recommended that council not approve the civil defense program but consider starting a program on the local level. This recommendation stemmed from the action of the county in hiring a replacement for outgoing civil defense director Lewis. During this replacement process the county did not involve the city as they have in past hiring processes. Every year the City of Guthrie gives $3000.00 to the county to support the program. City Manager Bret Jones felt that the city's exclusion from this process may warrant establishment of a city program. Former Director Lewis expressed a willingness to serve in the capacity as the city director.

The action was postponed on June 6 and tabled to the June 20th meeting. Logan County Commissioner Clarence Crews attended the June 20th meeting. He said that if the city chose to break off on its own then the city civil defense would be responsible for the city and the county civil defense would be responsible for the county. He father stated that the county civil defense would not come into the city and that the city civil defense would not be allowed in the county.

Crews did not indicate if this would include the watchers who traditionally volunteer for the civil defense director. His somewhat cryptic remarks simply indicated that there would be very little cooperation between the city and county. Ward I Councilor Davis responded by saying that this cooperation would be essential in a time of emergency. He said that he would support continuing to fund the county program rather than risking the problem of two departments that could not cooperate. The council agreed and voted to continue to fund the county program.

A few minor changes were made in the text of the agreement which should allow the city to be part of the hiring process in the future. Commissioner Crews said that he will check with the D.A.'s office to insure the agreement is legal. The county has yet to approve this agreement.