Meeting of 1997-5-5 Special Meeting

Month 1997-5 May

MINUTES

LAWTON CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING

MAY 5, 1997 - 9:00 A.M.

WAYNE GILLEY CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER

John T. Marley, Mayor, Also Present:

Presiding Gil Schumpert, City Manager

Felix Cruz, City Attorney

Brenda Smith, City Clerk

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Invocation by Rev. Ed Davis, Barnett Chapel A.M.E. Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Notice of meeting and agenda were posted on the City Hall bulletin board as required by State Law.

ROLL CALL

Present: Jody Maples, Ward One

Richard Williams, Ward Two

Joe Dutcher, Ward Three

John P. Purcell, Jr., Ward Four

Robert Shanklin, Ward Five

Charles Beller, Ward Six

Carol Green, Ward Seven

Randy Warren, Ward Eight

Absent: None.

COMMENTS - CURRENT ADMINISTRATION:

Dutcher presented the following comments, which are inserted verbatim:

"This is my final meeting with this august body of people and I do have several things I would like to say; it will only take a few moments. First of all, Mayor, I would like to tell you how much I have appreciated your people person-ism, what you have done for the City of Lawton and how you have carried forth your duties, I’m most grateful to have been a part of your administration.

Mr. City Manager, I have also enjoyed watching you work with expertise, frustration, and making sound decisions that affect the entire City of Lawton. And to the staff, I would like to say farewell, and the employees. I did not realize the work and the efforts that the staff has to put in to make this city run. Also I appreciate them listening to us when we have a problem and I have come to find out that the staff is the protectors of the city, and for that I am appreciative for the work that you have done. Thank you.

Now for my compatriots that are around this table, I want to congratulate you for the time that you spend in making preparations for the Council meetings; that takes hours of time I well know. I want to congratulate you for the late night calls that you receive, for the early morning calls you receive and for the calls that you return. People just do not realize that we take many calls; that is our job, I am not apologizing for that.

I want to congratulate you also for the silent time that you spend with the staff in getting things done within the city and within the wards that no one knows about except the person or persons which we do the job for, and that is our job.

I want to also congratulate you for all the special committees and the time that you spend down here for the City of Lawton. Once again, that is your job. I also want to congratulate you for the concern that you have for the city, the concern you have for the ward, and the time that you spend on both.

I also want to congratulate you for the heat that you take and continue to do good deeds. As for myself, I go with my head held high. I did not accomplish getting the drainage on 34th Street; I did not get a turn signal on 38th Street, but that’s OK, I did a lot of other things that I am proud of, and with that, I bid you ado."

Mayor Marley presented a plaque to Dutcher in honor of his service on the City Council. Mayor Marley declared the current administration to cease.

ADMINISTRATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY OATHS OF OFFICE BY MUNICIPAL JUDGE KEN HARRIS

Judge Harris administered the Oath of Office to the following:

Mayor John T. Marley

Jody Maples, Ward One Council Member

Jeff Sadler, Ward Three Council Member

Robert Shanklin, Ward Five Council Member

Charles Beller, Ward Six Council Member

Carol Green, Ward Seven Council Member

Randy Warren, Ward Eight Council Members

Mayor Marley declared the new administration to begin and roll call was taken as follows:

PRESENT: Jody Maples, Ward One

Richard Williams, Ward Two

Jeff Sadler, Ward Three

John P. Purcell, Jr., Ward Four

Robert Shanklin, Ward Five

Charles Beller, Ward Six

Carol Green, Ward Seven

Randy Warren, Ward Eight

COMMENTS - NEW ADMINISTRATION:

Williams said he would echo Dutcher’s comments regarding the staff and that he had found them to be tremendously professional and very willing to explore new avenues. He said everyone will have to pull together on the challenges for the next year.

Williams said he placed information at each Council seat that he had requested from the Chamber of Commerce. He said there is a bumper sticker saying "there’s something good going on around here", and there truly is as far as the jobs coming about and that Lawton is in a great position. Williams said the other item is a sticker showing the old City National clock saying "isn’t it time that you discover Lawton-Fort Sill". He encouraged Council members to be ambassadors for Lawton. Williams said he enjoyed working with the Council the first year, and that the second year would be even better.

Shanklin said he looked forward to the next year or two possibly more than any he had been involved in during the past, and that we can get the job done.

Sadler said he was glad to be back and was looking forward to getting to know the rest of the Council members. He said none of the current members were seated when he left the Council two years ago when he left the Council. Sadler said it is a different group and that he had been watching the meetings and felt it would be a really good Council to work with.

Schumpert distributed departmental initiatives regarding the upcoming budget; additional documents will be distributed this week. Budget meetings will begin Thursday, May 8 and continue each available Tuesday and Thursday until complete, provided no other direction is given.

Mayor Marley said he would echo Williams’ comments and the Council has done a good job and worked well with the staff. He said this afternoon at 3 p.m. Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin will be at the Carnegie Library Town Hall to kick off National Tourism Week. Mayor Marley said it is important to help support this effort and encouraged attendance.

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.