Town Council Updates Rec Complex Bylaws in First Untelevised Meeting of 2023

After a highly commented public work session on Wednesday, January 4, many thought the January Town Council meeting on Monday, January 9 would be crowded as well. However, the room held the standard number of attendees as per usual, though obviously absent were the TSS cameras which normally record and air the meeting on public access channels.

During opening remarks, Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh mentioned that, while absent from the December meeting, she had a chance to watch the meeting aired. She found the quality poor and hard to hear, so she did not ask them to attend the January meeting. She also mentioned several points of meeting etiquette that need to be followed, including no motion to discuss and that only Council members may call a Point of Order, not audience members.

Whitehall residents Bridget Morse and Maxine Samuelson, commented about TSS's lack of recording during public comment as well, mentioning that many choose to watch the meeting from their homes, and their hopes it will be re-established.

The hot topic at hand was the Council’s determination on Resolution 2023-02, in regard to updating the Rec Complex Bylaws, which was also the topic of the special work session held on the 4th (see article below).

The Rec Complex Board would now be comprised of nine members: 1 Rodeo rep, 1 Whitehall Saddle Club rep, 1 Whitehall Schools rep, 1 Baseball rep, 2 at Large reps, 2 surrounding area reps, and 1 council member who would sit as chair and vote only in the instance of a tie.

Councilman Roy McBride mentioned that #13 in the amendment, which addresses anyone who wishes to donate/repair the Rec Complex, their donation then becomes the property of the Rec Complex. McBride clarified that this is not retroactive and only covers items from the amendment passing forward. McBride said he hoped this would no longer be a point of contention to the amendment. Morse mentioned that this may discourage groups from fundraising towards improvements, as the improvements would not stay with the clubs that worked for them.

The Council voted to amend the motion with clarifications to #13 and #7 (not replacing the entire board at the same time - staggering term limits) as discussed.

Also mentioned during public comment, by the Whitehall Ledger, was the New Business agenda item C, which was stricken from the agenda at the start of the meeting. This was “Council determination on employee bonuses using ARPA funds.” When asked, the Mayor and Council did not respond, though the Ledger mentioned Leah Lewis’, Jefferson County’s ARPA Administrator, presence at the meeting.

After New Business was finalized, McBride asked whether Lewis wanted to say anything - to which she asked if the Council had any ARPA-related questions. Councilwoman Linda Jung asked whether bonuses could be given, which Lewis said the Town’s funds were already allocated to specific projects and bonuses could not be pulled from earmarked funds.

The Ledger asked why this couldn’t have been brought up when asked during Public Comment, to which the mayor said nothing was debated or argued during Public Comment; the Ledger noted that a reply from the Mayor or the Council is neither of those things. The Mayor said those items can be brought to her office any time, outside of the public meeting.

OTHER NEWS:

• Jessica Ward was thanked for her service as the Deputy Clerk, as the 9th was her last day at the Town Hall.

• Jennifer Downs with Globe Life presented an insurance program for the Council’s consideration.

TABLED:

• Council determination on new purchase order policy - tabled until next budget cycle.

• Council determination on digital imaging agreement with Family Search - tabled until a response is received from lawyers in regard to requested contract changes.

APPROVED:

•Business license: White Hat Solutions

• Gold Junction Presents’ electric car chargers were approved on a trial basis, with fees monitored and assessed at the end of summer. The electric car chargers will be placed near the Star Theatre.

•The council approved requesting the distribution of BARSAA grant funds, which is an annual request.

•Kennedy Kleinsasser was promoted to Deputy Clerk.