Kountze City Administrator Rod Hutto was reprimanded by the Kountze City Council at a regular council meeting last Thursday, but is being allowed to remain on paid administrative leave at least for a time.
The city council met in executive session for about an hour and a half Thursday afternoon. After returning to open session, City Attorney Kate Leverett read a proposed written reprimand which included suggesting that Hutto remain on paid administrative leave.
Leverett read a statement reprimanding Hutto for intimidation, making a threat, retaliation and harassment.
The council voted unanimously to accept the proposed written reprimand and the proposal to keep Hutto on paid administrative leave.
Hutto’s annual contract as city administrator expires in a few months, and at that time the council will vote on whether to renew his contract. Should he be terminated before his contract expires, the city could be required to meet the conditions outlined in his contract.
The investigation of Hutto began because of a written grievance which had been filed in June by then City Secretary Sonya Arline. Hutto was placed on paid administrative leave immediately following the filing of the grievance. The city council fired Arline in July, claiming she had violated personnel policy.
Tim Drake, who had been assistant city administrator, was named as interim city administrator immediately after Hutto was placed on paid administrative leave, and continues to serve in that position.
The meeting last Thursday was a regular monthly meeting, but had no action items on it other than routine items such as approving minutes of July 24 and Aug. 3 special meetings, and hearing reports from public works, police, library and municipal court.
During the public forum section of the meeting, Cheryl Bean came forward to address the council, but Drake told the council she could not speak because her subject did not meet the criteria, outlined in House Bill 2840. After being told that she couldn’t speak, she continued to make comments for a few seconds and was escorted out of the council chambers by the police chief and an officer.
HB 2840 does not address the question of whether citizens have the right to speak in public forum on topics not related to agenda items. It simply addresses citizens’ rights to speak in public forum on items on the agenda. To be perfectly clear, the council may put in place a provision that will allow citizens to speak on non agenda topics.
Per HB 2840, the council can still apply reasonable rules regarding the number, frequency, and length of presentation as outlined in the bill. The council hopefully will address the citizens’ desire to speak at meetings and consider making a provision that will allow it.
Earlier this year, the Kountze City Council had voted to allow citizens speaking at public forum to speak only on items on the agenda.