[0:00] right in front of me. I thought he was going 70 mph

[0:07] and they me

[0:20] they're referring to them as super speed.

[0:27] » All right. Sorry. It's a little bit late. We'll go ahead and get started.

[0:31] So, uh, first off, let's call to order and do a roll call for the members

[0:35] present. >> Council member Atkins

[0:38] » preser

[0:43] » preser

[0:50] » council member Joyce. >> Council member Son

[0:54] » present. >> Okay. Uh this is just a work session

[0:58] this evening. We're just going to discuss the applications that were

[1:02] received that everybody should have gotten.

[1:05] Um before we start doing that though, I'm going to ask council member sex to

[1:10] excuse herself and we'll we'll power for you when we're done. So you're in here

[1:14] for council. >> She's going to want to get

[1:16] » Okay, that's fine. >> Take the key. Yeah. And that the

[1:21] driver's side, not the passenger side. That's not my

[1:26] Somebody will let me know. >> Yeah, we'll call you or text your

[1:30] somebody will >> or I will or

[1:32] » wait until you get my phone.

[1:37] » And then um I do want to make another note. Um

[1:43] we have Mr. Wel that is related to Mr. Mrs. Sex

[1:48] » by she >> by marriage. So

[1:53] » that's not an issue. Okay, there we go. Was that is that your answer what you're

[1:57] looking for? >> I'm just making sure it'll be because

[1:59] » Oh, yeah. My family wouldn't benefit, I don't think, in any way is how I was

[2:05] kind of trying to summize everything. So,

[2:09] » it was blood relative. That's different. >> Yeah.

[2:13] » Well, his she to his nephew. So, >> that's even one one.

[2:22] So, she going to the to get you. >> Yeah, they're just

[2:26] we'll wait. We'll wait for Mayor. Mayor, are we uh looking at 13 resumes?

[2:32] Whatever the I think there's 13. Okay. Just wanted to make sure.

[2:37] » There was a seemed like a redundancy in a couple of them,

[2:43] » but I kind of kept going and going and going.

[2:46] » Okay. All right.

[2:48] » Yeah. So, uh, >> I I

[2:52] tell you, >> everybody did get the packet, correct?

[2:55] And has had an opportunity to look through it.

[2:58] » Yes. >> Um, Shannon, we'll just we'll start off

[3:01] with you. What what you want to what you want to discuss or or because you've

[3:06] seen these before, we have, I'm assuming.

[3:08] » Yes, I have. >> So, um, I guess we'll just uh or Mike,

[3:12] do you want to start off with any rules of this or

[3:15] » No, this is it's really just purpose of the meeting. council chance to review

[3:19] the resume. Uh the inter manager has suggested that she's growing weary of

[3:25] the position and want council to make a choice

[3:30] or take an action of some right indicated that she's not going to give

[3:34] anybody high and drive but wanted to get the process started. So that's really

[3:38] what will you remain clerk? >> Yes.

[3:41] » Will you be transitioning the new hire? >> I would have to. Yes.

[3:46] » Yes. Okay. Just wanted to know how that process went.

[3:49] » Yeah. >> Okay. Well, but and you're indicating

[3:52] that you go back to your assistant position.

[3:54] » Yeah. Actually, the the finance department asked me if I would consider

[3:57] CFO. Um, so it's kind of up in the in the air where where the needs are.

[4:01] » Tom Duty was asking you that. >> Correct. Okay.

[4:04] » So, it was a discussion. I'm not as interested in CFO as I am the

[4:09] administrative assistant. I feel like I can get more done in that role. Um, but

[4:13] again, I'm a team player and we'll do whatever is needed. So you the

[4:17] administrative assistant is a full-time position.

[4:20] » Yes. >> And that's fulfilling to the village

[4:23] manager >> as well as clerk

[4:26] » to be honest with you. It's a more difficult position. So

[4:29] » okay just that. >> Yeah. Okay.

[4:33] » So that Yeah.

[4:36] » Anybody else have any questions? >> Vice Mayor, I'll tell you what, why

[4:41] don't you just start it off? um kind of look through or explain how you've gone

[4:45] through the process of looking through these applications and give us your

[4:48] feedback on it. That's probably the best way to do it with the understanding as I

[4:52] indicated this is just a work session. We're not here to make any decisions

[4:55] tonight. Okay. >> It's kind of open your eyes, take a look

[4:58] what we got and uh throw it around for a few minutes and uh we'll move forward

[5:04] with maybe a second work session if we need to or um you know that sound good

[5:10] with everybody. Mr. Present. >> You guys good with that?

[5:15] » All right. So, go ahead, please. >> Okay. Shannon has brought stability to

[5:19] the village office. She has demonstrated the way the village should and could

[5:24] run. She has communicated policies to both the public and to the village

[5:30] staff. Um, wasteful police actions have been eliminated and the current

[5:37] organization of departments are moving forward. The new village manager will

[5:42] have many challenges to face. Currently, the legislature is looking at removing

[5:48] property taxes for seniors and this will affect new lean income and the ability

[5:53] to move forward. The new manager will need to find additional income. Zoning

[5:59] continues to be an issue and along with bringing

[6:05] business to the community. the candidates that I chose. And this is

[6:10] how I did it. I looked at just the resumes. I didn't look at anything else,

[6:17] just resumes. And I I waited waited what was

[6:22] important. And I noticed that communication and the way that the

[6:27] public has responded to Shannon because she has communicated.

[6:32] » She's good at customer service. And I made that a 40%. You can get 40%.

[6:37] Knowledge of government practices was 20. Accuracy was 20%. Problem solving I

[6:43] did um 10%. Organize and motivate 5% and knowledge of new Lebanon challenges I

[6:50] did a 5%. And the three that

[6:55] I waited I waited them all. some of them. Um, the gentleman from

[7:02] Colorado, I actually threw his um, thing out because in our public policies that

[7:10] we receive, if there is a mistruth on a resume or whatever, we would throw

[7:18] it out in your policies. Um, he stated that it has 6,000

[7:23] residents. There's only 1,800. I looked up the census,

[7:27] but the the ones that I came out with was Melissa Stson at 95%, Jeff Carter at

[7:35] 80% and Pete Hager at 75%. They were all, you know, they all had a lot to

[7:42] give and um you know, some of them have absolutely no

[7:49] government. um

[7:53] no government at all. Um they're mostly medical and um Sarah back which was I

[8:02] was just I thought wow this would be really good but um I only got a 60% on

[8:07] her. So as much as I would have loved to have done that um put her in the mix.

[8:14] She had no knowledge of government and she

[8:18] um really didn't show any um organization or motivation to to to

[8:26] staff to get them going. So those are the three that I really would like to

[8:31] even look at. >> When you say look at, you mean talk

[8:35] » to really talk about? Yeah. >> If you want to know what I got for each

[8:40] one, just let me know. I got them all written down. Okay.

[8:46] » What did you get from Mr. Hager? >> Mr. Hager got a 75%.

[8:54] » Did you include in your city experience familiarity with public works?

[9:02] » No, I did not. >> Department those are pretty elements

[9:06] too, >> right? That kind of went under

[9:08] government and yes, I think that would be a very big thing. But I also know we

[9:11] have dentists. Um and so

[9:16] that's a portion of the government you have. You have um

[9:21] » Okay. So you pack that into >> Yeah.

[9:24] » And grant grant writing and getting public funds.

[9:27] » It's going to be Yeah. >> You got to have those connections and

[9:32] » Yeah. very much. >> Know how to fill the village because

[9:36] with our infrastructure for

[9:40] Yeah. So, if you have any questions on how I

[9:45] did this or or what I looked at, um, definitely

[9:49] please yell.

[9:53] Does anybody have anything for you? I'm sorry.

[9:56] » Anybody have anything for or anything uh to add on in addition to what the been

[10:06] mentioning? >> No.

[10:09] Thank you, >> Mr. Wilder. You're up, sir.

[10:12] » Okay. Um, I took a look at everyone that was on

[10:18] there and uh it was tough to narrow it down under the circumstances that uh

[10:27] they would be doing and their background. Nothing really stood out ex

[10:33] but if I had to pick one obviously Melissa she's a resident.

[10:41] » Um she is familiar with the structure of how things work internally.

[10:49] That was the why I was asking how things would develop with someone coming new on

[10:54] board. Um, so I mean she would be I would agree with Vice Mayor Cooper on

[11:04] that candidate sex. Um, the other you did say Jeff Harter and Hager, correct?

[11:14] » Okay. I did like um his military background

[11:22] and his experience there with dealing with the municipality aspect of the

[11:31] government. Um I did like that as well. So yeah, I would agree with uh Harter

[11:37] and uh Hager. Um >> actually I gave Mr. harder extra extra

[11:44] points because he was military >> and if I remember from the our

[11:50] unit personel thing that standing >> yes

[11:56] » some of the yes so um I'm kind of like I I got to agree with you also about the

[12:03] um medical field background in some um I just didn't see where that was really

[12:13] a good fit for us. So, yeah, I would go with those three. I would not have a

[12:19] problem with discussing it more and talking with them, narrowing it down.

[12:25] Um, also, I did have a question for Shannon.

[12:29] That one piece of paper about public request, was that just included in the

[12:34] packet by mistake? What was that? >> Did anybody get that? Yeah,

[12:39] » it was really really specific. >> I didn't know what that was. Did it have

[12:46] anything to do with what we're doing?

[12:52] » No, it does not. >> Okay.

[12:54] » All right. I was just like, >> okay. Just wanted to verify that. I

[12:58] didn't think it did. I'm like, if someone requested something like that,

[13:03] how in the world >> That's my life.

[13:06] » Oh my gosh. I mean, that's a hard no right off the bat. Okay. Yeah. Um,

[13:13] » so the other thing was the village resident requirement. Um,

[13:18] how long do you give someone um coming on new to become a resident?

[13:25] » There is no residency requirement. >> There is no res.

[13:28] » Okay. Because from the charter it said that it would have to be established

[13:34] after the fact. >> It's it was one year. you have one year

[13:37] to move them into but then um state law I mean and Mr. You can elaborate more,

[13:42] but it's unconstitutional to require, right?

[13:45] » Okay, I remember that now. >> Okay.

[13:48] » For like emergency responders, things of that

[13:54] nature, there can be not a residence requirement, but a proximity

[13:58] requirement. >> But for your village manager,

[14:01] » okay, >> has been well settled for 25 plus years.

[14:04] Anyhow, that's that's a hard, >> okay?

[14:08] » But that doesn't mean we can't take that as a factor in your consideration as you

[14:14] evaluate humanity. >> Sure.

[14:17] » Because bottom line is we've gone through

[14:21] one, two, three in the past two years, right?

[14:24] » Yeah. >> Yeah. So can't swing.

[14:30] » Can't what? >> We can't swing it.

[14:32] » Right. So true. That's all I have.

[14:39] Anybody have anything else for Mr.

[14:45] Mr. Joy? I came up with five.

[14:53] » I'm sorry. Could you say it a little louder?

[14:56] » Wolf,

[15:05] I think they all have something that they could offer. Anybody

[15:24] have anything for Mr. Joy? Any questions, concerns? Anything?

[15:29] » If I may, something to interrupt just to let you know the one we selected, Mr.

[15:35] He did apply to the city of Germantown because it came through. I did submit

[15:39] it, but I don't think he never replied to me when I asked him for

[15:42] clarification. So, I don't believe that he meant to submit it to us.

[15:45] » Oh, >> I was going to make that comment just to

[15:49] let you know, but I did include it because it was a bit

[15:52] » that was my accuracy. >> I was thinking someone

[15:57] » I did email him thinking maybe he was but he did not reply. So, I I consider

[16:01] him not interested. Okay.

[16:06] Nothing else.

[16:10] » Okay. Jim Austin I actually veto because he plays for Germantown, not new

[16:15] evidence. Um Cole Webb, he has a court case that is active right now in um

[16:22] Colorado that is basically with um two police officers that he basically

[16:30] um they've already run the claim and now they're doing the village. Well, not the

[16:36] village, the what is it? It's the county. Yeah.

[16:41] » That settled town >> um about that and he's named on it

[16:46] because he was actually the one that >> messed with it because they was not able

[16:52] to get a job after he um dismissed them from the police force and they applied

[16:58] for ICE and it was his statement that stopped them from being able to do it.

[17:03] So I kind of vetoed him right off the bat

[17:08] after that. And then we're going to go to that was

[17:13] left Daniel. >> Okay.

[17:16] » Um, yep. He has a lot of lack of qualifications.

[17:20] Um, he just doesn't have anything that's

[17:24] with the village of qualification. >> I did him because he had PEI in there.

[17:29] » And then we got Heidi. Um, she's a state tested no.

[17:36] I mean, it's health. That's what the specialty is.

[17:43] Um Michael he specializes in emergency maintenance and public health

[17:49] coordination. So his work is basically it um

[17:54] concentrates on safety and health and not on the logistics of the government.

[17:59] So I kind of detail him. Sandy Townsen. Um

[18:06] she has the fundamental knowledge but she lacks the seno um level experience

[18:12] for a village manager.

[18:17] Then we got

[18:21] I'm trying not to miss any. >> Delaney.

[18:25] » Um yeah Delaney she has no municipality leadership and the background into

[18:31] healthcare.

[18:34] Then we're going on Tanya healthcare and nursing.

[18:40] Then s um Sarah back. She um has lack of understanding of municipal law and

[18:48] zoning and public work, >> but she does have a lot of other

[18:53] qualifications, but that's I'm just going what the lacking is. Jeff Harding,

[18:59] um he lacks um municipal financing and budgeting.

[19:12] » You said the harder. >> Yeah.

[19:16] » I guarantee you he experience.

[19:23] » Yeah. Well, if when you go back and you do the background on him, he's not doing

[19:29] budgeting. I did a big background on all these

[19:32] guys.

[19:36] » Um, that's so then we're going on the new

[19:45] Steven Wolf. Don't even get me started on this one. Um, this one has a sexual

[19:51] harassment case. He also has um he was actually with um

[20:00] They audit all they found out um findings of um paying um employees after

[20:05] they left over $2,000. Yes, it's a little bit of money, but it's something

[20:09] that you should be doing. So, there's stuff on him. He has like three

[20:13] different other lawsuits, too. I'm not going to go in all his lawsuits, but

[20:18] he's not a good one. Melissa sex. We're going to get back to

[20:22] the whole of Alien. Um

[20:28] Peel He has um no hand-on experience in

[20:34] public works or infrastructure, but he has a strong administration and planning

[20:40] and financing. >> He is but it's just the um

[20:45] infrastructure with public works and donating and planning use he does not

[20:49] have. Now when we're going back to Melissa,

[20:53] I think there was Joe too, but he didn't. It was just a little little

[20:58] didn't any background that I could pour on him. So,

[21:03] um Melissa, I have some major concerns and the reason why I have the concerns

[21:09] is when we had the village manager that retail prior to it.

[21:14] Um and believe me, I love Melissa to death. She's a good person and I do

[21:19] think she could do a good job. Don't get me wrong. But in the same sense,

[21:25] we have a village manager that she voted on to release.

[21:30] And before all this, they used to come up and they were saying how it looks

[21:36] like um friends, buddies, and pals. Well, her best friend is going to be the

[21:42] assistant, and they'll be walking together. So,

[21:46] right there is a big red flag that people's going to say, "Oh, wait. Now

[21:49] they're going to say she got filed to she voted to get rid of Glenna so she

[21:55] could get the job and this is what's been talking through the village

[21:59] already. It's not something that's new. They're already talking about it and it

[22:04] just doesn't looks good. Even if she could do the job, it don't look like a

[22:08] good fit. We do we really want to go backwards and we have to hash everything

[22:13] over already. It's going good. My biggest thing is if you're going to look

[22:18] at anybody, I would say

[22:24] um I think it's Tito Hegel or just get a head huddle and have Shannon staple a

[22:32] little longer and where we get somebody that can qualify that has years of

[22:36] experience because there is organizations that can help us to get a

[22:40] good city manager here. >> I'm working with him right now. Yep.

[22:46] » But I think we really need to get ahead. I I'm being honest with you guys.

[22:52] » Um, >> yeah.

[22:55] » Can I say a couple things? >> Let me say something real quick. Um, I

[22:59] understand what you're saying about how things work, but at the same time, you

[23:06] cannot let that color a decision that you're making. Now, I'm not going to put

[23:12] my name on something and get another lawsuit. I'm just not going to do it

[23:16] because you're going to look at another lawsuit. Believe me, as soon as

[23:22] here, we got another lawsuit. Does the village need another lawsuit?

[23:26] » No. But I also understand that, >> you know, I also understand that in all

[23:32] reality, if you turn if you lean too far this way

[23:37] and you and to compensate for that, you're leaning all the way over here,

[23:42] then you're not being fair and just. And that's why I did I didn't do off of

[23:47] social media. I didn't do off of uh background checks. I went strictly on

[23:54] what they submitted. And that's why I did it that way.

[23:58] » I always go on background check. >> I know you do. And that's why I asked if

[24:02] you were going to do it. Yeah. If you weren't, then I I would have

[24:05] » I always did that because you wanted to know what you'll get into.

[24:08] » Correct. And it it's wise to be have your eyes open. But I also understand

[24:17] that you don't

[24:22] you don't make decisions because of what might happen. You make decisions the

[24:28] best decisions that you can. >> And hey, my best decision if we're going

[24:32] to unless you're going to go on ahead on those.

[24:34] » Yeah. Because as a a community, we have to go as leaders.

[24:40] You have to make hard decisions sometimes. And you have to make

[24:44] decisions based on all. >> Because to be honest though, if you

[24:46] look, Melissa really doesn't have zoning. She doesn't have planning. She

[24:52] doesn't have infrastructure. If you really want to go on, she doesn't have

[24:56] any of that. She has no municipality on that. She does with this, but it's

[25:02] just since she's been on with us that she has that knowledge.

[25:07] » Correct. >> Walking all that. She doesn't have that.

[25:09] If you really want to go on somebody that does, strong in personal financing

[25:13] and budgeting and everything else. And he he does have I agree with that. But

[25:20] I'm just kind of under trying to understand

[25:24] why he would go from the city of Dayton to the city of Cington and come back to

[25:31] a little village like New Leon. That that's not a going up.

[25:36] » Find a head hunel. Well, find somebody who's one of the um facilities that you

[25:41] can actually go and get a a village manager.

[25:45] » Yeah, I I see what you're saying >> because keep Shannon and tell them

[25:51] » good. >> So, just listen to you guys. Um a few

[25:55] things. So, experience and knowledge. I hear you talking about these different

[25:59] candidates and some are healthcare. Um actually, we get a lot of healthcare

[26:03] submissions, believe it or not. Um I don't have experience and knowledge. I

[26:08] think that um and I don't have a college degree. Um I would be I would say that I

[26:15] can confidently though run this village better than somebody with a masters in

[26:19] public administration. >> Yes.

[26:21] » Because of who I am. Um I take pride in what I do. I learn fast. You talk about

[26:27] not not knowing infrastructure. I can walk you h through the entire way um the

[26:32] influent affluent our water system and wastewater system now because I have

[26:35] interest in it and because I'm able to learn that. Um so with that being said I

[26:41] don't think that judging somebody based off of do they have experience or not

[26:46] you may have a nurse in there that's more qualified than Mr. Hager or Mr.

[26:50] Wolf who have been in municipal government for years. So with that I

[26:54] just want to say that. So then don't disqualify lack of experience or

[26:58] education because I'm proof that that really doesn't matter. Um like I said,

[27:02] it's passion, it's commitment, it's multitasking. It's a lot. This this job

[27:07] is not it's not an easy job. I hope somebody doesn't think they're going to

[27:10] come in here and I mean it is it's constant. It is and and there's a lot.

[27:14] We're we're very behind. >> How many hours do you think someone

[27:18] should expect to uh put in that position if they were to? If we offered it to

[27:25] them, how many hours would you I mean it's not an 85 job?

[27:30] » No, 40 hours. >> One time till midnight.

[27:32] » There you go. >> Like seven weeks.

[27:33] » Yeah. You got to have that kind of work ethic to um take on a responsibility,

[27:39] but how long can they last? I mean, there's got to be some parameters so

[27:42] that you can get the longevity out of that person.

[27:46] » I agree. I agree with that. The thing is right now that we are

[27:49] » You're doing two positions though. I'm doing well. I'm doing I'm one person

[27:53] doing two positions. >> Okay.

[27:55] » Yeah. Thank you for making point. So I am doing two positions

[27:58] » but also like I said >> there's a lot of things that are not

[28:03] right in the village from a financial aspect, from a legal aspect, from policy

[28:08] procedures, legislature. >> Every day it's something new.

[28:12] » Um you can't you can't kind of you can't

[28:16] slow off. You cannot start pushing the brakes at all. You need to keep going

[28:19] forward because day 10 days come up and you're still dealing with 50 things from

[28:23] before. So if you start slowing down and losing that momentum, you're going to be

[28:26] back to where you were and not accomplish anything.

[28:29] » Well, what's your opinion about how well would you work with like say Melissa? I

[28:33] mean, is that does that appeal to you? >> Well, and that's my other thing that I

[28:38] want to note. Um, I have I'm from the school. My heart is with the school just

[28:42] as much as it is here. Um, I did not plan on working for the village, let

[28:47] alone being the interim manager when I started coming up to the podium podium

[28:51] as a citizen. Um, with that being said, Mr. Git, Mr. Joy knows how much I I talk

[28:57] about um, cronyism and nepotism. However, and this is what I've explained

[29:01] before, you can have an entire family working in the service department and

[29:05] they can kill it and they can exceed expectations and they can get things

[29:08] done and accomplish things. Or you can have six strangers that just sit on the

[29:12] do absolutely nothing. >> So, I think that it depends on the

[29:16] person. I can tell you myself or my family, I can hire every single person

[29:19] in my family and this place would run like a welloiled machine. I wouldn't do

[29:24] that. Um, and they're in another state, but it's just it all depends on the

[29:28] person, the people. So, um >> I think that's going to

[29:36] be a something that I I would think that would uh show um excel it would excel

[29:44] into people working together. You got to I mean obviously we had an incident in

[29:50] certain areas of that village that it was a downfall.

[29:54] » Absolutely. and you see what it took to be able to get things running. So, um,

[30:01] yeah, there's a lot to be said about that.

[30:03] » Yeah. I mean, and I have no problem once getting things transitioned over. I

[30:06] mean, you're going to have to find somebody strong to fill my position, but

[30:09] ultimately, I mean, I have no I mean, if it's that big of an issue, I have no

[30:13] point. I mean, I have no problem in I don't want to say walking away because

[30:16] I'm going to be extremely active regardless whether it be an employee or

[30:19] a citizen. But, um, you know, I understand I do understand your point

[30:25] and I I I see why you said that. It's valid. But I but I will say, as much as

[30:32] I agree with you, it was not anybody's intent. Like I said, coming up here for

[30:36] years, it was not my intent to work here. I didn't quit my job. It was not

[30:40] Melissa's intent. I was very surprised she put in for this position. She's got

[30:43] a career she's been at for a very long time. She's very comfortable there. So

[30:47] again, back when all that happened and you'd have to ask her, but I don't think

[30:50] it was this is not some big grand scheme to get a job at the village of 11,

[30:56] » but you can see how the public and it doesn't look like that at the end

[31:03] of the day it doesn't look like. >> What's that thing about a lawsuit? I

[31:08] mean, >> he's involved in a lawsuit.

[31:10] » She's involved in this lawsuit. I mean, is that something that uh would what

[31:17] would our law director like to say about what your comment was about by doing

[31:22] something we're exposing them? I mean, we wouldn't want to do anything like

[31:26] that. >> Anybody could say anybody for anything.

[31:28] » Is that what is that true? I mean, >> are there I've got two frivolous

[31:34] lawsuits. One of them has been dismissed.

[31:37] » Okay. >> I'm just saying

[31:38] » there's anybody can file for anything. It will get thrown out eventually just

[31:45] like these >> lawsuits.

[31:47] Village money. >> It could. I can't imagine what the uh

[31:52] what the litigation would look like, but then again,

[31:57] you couldn't get me to say that it might not happen.

[32:00] » But I mean, in your backtory, so what >> in any business you have acceptability

[32:05] of >> it is that's that's part of business.

[32:08] Yes. Mayor, if I could just say a couple words on that. um that's been involved

[32:13] in city managers searches and couple big ones recently and another one right now

[32:20] and you know my experience has been that it's a heart condition that matters okay

[32:29] and I've looked at the rotation of uh interums that we've

[32:36] had here in full time And when Shannon got here and she's

[32:43] right, she didn't know anything. Okay. Other than being

[32:51] her heart, right? And I really understand what you're saying,

[32:55] » Nicole. You know, it's all well taken. Just don't shrug it off. It's something

[33:00] that you got to deal with. But, um, you know, I looked at Melissa's resume

[33:07] and I talked to her after she What the hell are you thinking?

[33:15] Why would you leave that position to do that? I I think I won't tell her

[33:21] answer. She wasn't confidence, but that's for her to tell you. I'd ask her

[33:25] that question. What the hell you think? Pardon my profanity.

[33:32] I'm with you on that. I was the same thing this evening. Same exact thing. I

[33:38] mean, so I mean, it gets down to what you council members have to do. It's in

[33:43] the best interest of the village. Okay. You're fortunate that Shannon has helped

[33:49] turn the tide >> and you know, but Shann's not the police

[33:53] department. You know, they're they're doing their part. So, you've got a lot

[33:58] of positive going on and it's good to see.

[34:02] » You know, I'm just not an outside interest here. I'm fully invested and

[34:08] want this village to succeed. Been through a lot. I think the future looks

[34:13] bright. The next choice that you make, it's going to have to be good.

[34:19] » I keeping Shannon on board in some capacity, but you know, I work closely

[34:25] with Shannon. I can tell you there's been days where I just thought we roll

[34:31] over. But go ahead. That's my two cents.

[34:37] » Thank you, >> J. I'm sorry, too.

[34:41] » No, no, no. I was

[34:46] » Okay. Um, I just have a couple of comments. I I reviewed all of these in

[34:51] pretty good detail actually and uh I did some research myself

[34:58] and if you guys get a chance and you look at

[35:03] the new Lebanon charter section 4.01 under Minnesota manager qualifications

[35:09] and spec specifically states uh manager be chosen by council on the basis of its

[35:14] judgment of such persons executive and administrative qualifications and

[35:18] abilities as evidenced by such person's training experience public

[35:23] administration or otherwise that that kind of opened my eyes the

[35:28] otherwise part um I too am in in agreement with with

[35:32] Nicole um on Mr. Mr. Hager. Um, but I I'm also in agreement with with Melissa

[35:40] and a head officer, so I'm kind of right with you in line with that. But

[35:46] as for the others, I appreciate what they've done, but I look at it

[35:50] differently. Um, most of these people have never been

[35:55] in our community. They've never sat at a council meeting. They've never gone

[35:59] through and heard and talked and seen what we have gone through. I think

[36:05] that's important. Most of these these individuals

[36:10] um have not seen what we have done in the

[36:16] last two years and three months for this community. I too am being sued. Nicole

[36:22] and I have been on the same bus since February 7th

[36:26] and we're fighting and we're winning because the cases are getting thrown

[36:30] out. So something must be right. we must be winning because we're telling the

[36:33] truth about stuff and they don't have nothing. So, that's what I'm leaning

[36:38] towards. I I think Melissa is lacking in some municipal experience and

[36:46] knowledge, but Shannon Beimis was too. And look how far she's gotten us. She's

[36:51] found $365,000 in back taxes that people owe this community. She's saved us

[36:56] money. Look at our police department. Look at our fire department. Look at the

[37:00] progressive things that have happened to this community since she took the seats.

[37:04] And I think that that with her help and her guidance and her attitude, I think

[37:11] that Melissa would be a good asset with some training. Now, let me back up. I

[37:16] agree with what Nicole says with the cronyism and nepotism and all that, but

[37:22] that didn't stop the previous people that were here. It did the same thing.

[37:27] Now, are we any better than them? You want my opinion? We are because we've

[37:31] proven ourselves and and we're working hard towards that. Okay. Um,

[37:38] so the the the the individuals that that

[37:42] sent over resumes and we've talked to, I appreciate what they've done. Um, most

[37:47] of them have medical experience and training as everybody has indicated. Um,

[37:53] do they have the knowledge and experience? Probably not.

[37:56] But neither does Melissa. But Melissa's been

[38:00] involved in every council meeting since 2017. She knows what's been going on in

[38:05] this community. She's helping in this community. She's been a part of this

[38:08] community. She lives in this community. So that's 50 60% of what we're looking

[38:13] for right off the bat. Can she be trained? Sure, she can. Can she go to

[38:16] OML conferences and schools and training and all that like Mr. Wilder and the

[38:21] vice mayor and I did? Absolutely. So, it's not like we're shooting ourselves

[38:25] in the foot by selecting somebody that does not know anything about this

[38:30] community. Okay. I also agree um Nicole with you on Mr. Wolf. Mr. Wolf is

[38:36] absolutely a no-go. That dude's being sued all over the place and he's done

[38:40] illegal stuff. We don't want him. >> Um Mr. Carter, who has been to three

[38:46] council meetings since 2017, likes to proclaim how good he is and how better

[38:51] he is than everybody else and that we're afraid of him is why we haven't hired

[38:55] him. The the Did he serve his country

[39:00] honorably? Sure he did. He he did what he did for his country. but to to talk

[39:07] down to the leadership of this community, to talk down to the the

[39:11] attorney, to talk down to the police department with comments on social

[39:14] media, which I have right here cuz I've saved them for the last eight months.

[39:20] Um, that's an issue. >> And he's been to three council meetings

[39:24] since 2017. And then he has the audacity to come out and say that we're political

[39:29] idiots. Do we want somebody like that as our

[39:33] leader of this community who calls the current council members and the mayor

[39:38] political idiots and a weak city management system against policies. I

[39:45] think our policies are straight up. If you don't think the policies are right,

[39:49] look at our our updates in our on our uh chart that's been that we've been

[39:54] working on. Look at what's been going on. We've been working forward, working

[39:59] hard to move forward. So, if if I had a choice and and it's not a choice

[40:05] tonight, I I agree with you. I would cut it down to two. It would be Melissa or a

[40:12] head hunter. That would be my choice. Okay. Um I I appreciate everybody else

[40:19] who has applied. Um, I appreciate their time and their efforts, but we have to

[40:26] do something that's difficult for us to make decisions on and what we have to

[40:31] do. And what we have to do is support our community and what our community

[40:34] needs. And I I think that's what we need. I think we need somebody that's

[40:38] been in this town, that lives in this community, been here, I don't know, two

[40:42] years, Shannon, I don't know how long she lived in this town. Um, I I I think

[40:47] that that's what we need to focus on. I think the past is behind us. I think we

[40:52] need to move forward and we can't make a mistake and select somebody

[40:58] » Yeah. >> that uh we just don't know anything

[41:00] about and we know everything about Melissa Son and that's my opinion about

[41:05] it. >> I felt that was a positive in my book. I

[41:10] mean not being partial but I I would rather

[41:14] know the person that's working within than not because we're going in blind

[41:19] with the others. That's right. And and and Mr. Welder, I'm sorry to cut you off

[41:22] and interrupt you, but look look what this lady has done, working together,

[41:27] mind you, with our acting village manager for a day at the park. The last

[41:32] two years have been a 1,000% success. >> Hard work

[41:36] » that they have done. And they worked together in a position with two former

[41:42] managers that give that didn't really give two hoops about the community,

[41:45] » right? >> And look how successful it was. Imagine

[41:48] them working together here and how successful they will be. And and that's

[41:52] how I'm looking at it. And and that's that's what I'm leaning towards. But I

[41:58] agree with you, Nicole. I I think if uh I think it's I think it's warranted if

[42:02] Shannon would stick on for a little bit longer. I think it's warranted to talk

[42:05] to a head hunter, maybe get a few more, review them, um and go from there and

[42:12] see where we're at with it. If I had a choice tonight, I would select Melissa

[42:16] and then I would accept her resignation as the mayor and then we'd submit our

[42:20] 30-day letter to bring somebody else up to

[42:23] » talk about process. >> Go ahead.

[42:26] Just a thought on

[42:30] you may want to consider before you get a deadline interview to what council

[42:36] considers top executive session next meeting and you

[42:42] know council be ready just >> I think that would be a great idea.

[42:45] » So before you go through the process ahead because you just get a night head

[42:51] » I know >> you're going to get what you pay for

[42:53] » just a couple of them I you do a decent search, you're going to be between 15

[42:57] and 25 gram. >> So, that's just an FYI. So, and then in

[43:04] terms of if you get to a preferred candidate, okay, it's not just, hey,

[43:10] you're hired. >> Sure. Sure.

[43:11] » It's, you know, you'd have to authorize me to,

[43:14] » right, >> prepare a contract that council would

[43:17] approve the basic terms of >> and then engage in negotiations.

[43:22] Anyhow, I just wanted to get Yeah, this I think we're in an early we're not

[43:27] going to rush through this by no means. This is something that we really need to

[43:30] think hard about and and move forward. And that's if we have to do another work

[43:34] session or two work sessions out there too. Even though you guys say it doesn't

[43:39] look like for him to vote for Melissa if she did come on, it's going to look bad

[43:46] because it is family.

[43:51] » That's just being honest. I'm going to tell you the community. They had a

[43:55] problem with Gail voting and I'm sorry Gail and I'm not trying to be mean. They

[44:00] had a problem with Gail voting on Glenn's contract when Glenn his daughter

[44:05] worked for Glenn that was out there.

[44:10] » That's blood.

[44:17] » You don't get it. His daughter was not blood to Glenn. No, it's blood to him.

[44:24] » I know, but his daughter was not blood to Glenn.

[44:27] » He's the one voting. >> Yeah, he voted and it had nothing to do

[44:31] with his daughter, but his daughter worked for Glenn. People be mad enough

[44:37] to make comments or >> so. But I don't want to make comments. I

[44:43] do think it looks sad >> for having a family member even though

[44:47] it's not blood. >> His his nephew still benefits

[44:53] from because he's married to Melissa.

[44:57] » But we got some we got some discussion to do.

[45:00] » Okay. >> Um

[45:02] Mike, if you if you approve, I think uh um we ought probably ought to have an

[45:08] executive session, talk about it again. do some interviewing.

[45:10] » Okay. >> Um I don't know have everybody

[45:14] » do an interview >> or

[45:17] session or discuss it. >> Yeah, I think that would be good. I mean

[45:22] because last time I think there's concern that not all council

[45:26] participated. >> So it all

[45:31] you'd have to leave it mayor. >> That's right. That's not um

[45:37] » you know we we'll identify one or two questions and you know so it's not an

[45:40] all nighter or whatever >> but I think that would be our next stop

[45:44] if everybody's comfortable with that we'll do another work set or at an

[45:49] executive session maybe if not the next meeting the meeting after that whatever

[45:52] we need to do whatever the timing >> we'll do executive session see how far

[45:56] we get if you want to make a decision after the executive session in terms of

[46:00] what direction you want to head >> based upon those interviews

[46:04] You can't make the decision executive session but you come out here and

[46:08] debate. >> Okay.

[46:11] » Is everybody in agreeance with that? You want to do that?

[46:14] » All right. Um I don't think I need to. Anybody have

[46:18] anything else? Any other comments or questions?

[46:20] » And I'm not trying to be mean in any way. No, you're right. I'm willing.

[46:24] » And you know what? We're doing >> I will I have nothing against me against

[46:29] Mr. W. I'm just I just wanted to let everybody know it's just epic.

[46:36] » And you know what? I'm with you. I'm tired of being sued.

[46:39] » I just I'm not going to go through that motion. Okay.

[46:42] » Yep. >> All right. Um I'd like to do a motion to

[46:45] go ahead and terminate this work session.

[46:48] » Second. >> Sorry. Council member Atkins.

[46:54] » Yes. Mayor Cooper. >> Yes.

[46:58] Mayor Mayor. >> Yes. Council

[47:02] Wilder. >> Yes.

[47:04] » Council member Joy. >> Yes.

[47:06] » And >> Okay. Can somebody go out and holler for

[47:09] her? >> And then we're going to take

[47:14] we'll take 10 minutes.

[47:31] going

[47:41] out.

[47:52] Senator

[48:09] You know, there's two ways to

[48:33] Friday night.

[48:56] All

[49:13] right, everybody. Good evening. Sorry for the delay. We appreciate your

[49:16] patience. We'll go ahead and get started.

[49:22] I'd like to call to order this March 3rd, 2026 regular council meeting.

[49:25] Please rise for the invocation. Standing for a pledge of alleg

[49:37] to put aside personal agendas and work together in harmony.

[49:41] Grant us the patience to listen to one another and the courage to do what is

[49:45] right for the common good. May our work tonight strengthen the

[49:49] bonds of our community. We pray that you continue to protect the

[49:53] citizens of our community, our public service workers, our firefighters, our

[49:58] medics, and our police department. In the name we pray. Amen.

[50:03] » Amen.

[50:08] America and to the republic for it stands one nation

[50:14] indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[50:23] » Okay. Next is verbal roll call. Council members present for the record.

[50:29] » Vice Mayor Cooper >> council member Joy

[50:33] » council member present. Council member Wilder

[50:36] » present. >> Mayor

[50:38] » present. >> Nico

[50:42] that's the approval of the February 17, 2026 regular council meeting minutes.

[50:46] Are there any corrections or changes to these minutes?

[50:52] » Do I have a motion to approve the February 17, 2026 regular council

[50:55] meeting minutes?

[51:02] » All those in favor say I. Anyone opposed?

[51:07] » Uh, yes. One. No. Motion carries. >> Okay. Before we uh move on to unfinished

[51:13] business, Chelsea Fry, school nurse for the school, elementary, middle, which

[51:18] one is it? Both of them. All of them. >> All of them.

[51:20] » I guess uh you have some information you'd like to pass on about the blue

[51:25] envelope program.

[51:31] » You can come up here and talk to if you like. Either one.

[51:35] » It's up to you. >> Okay, that's fine.

[51:40] » Envelope. Can you hear me? No. >> No. Is it turned off?

[51:54] » Okay. So, Chief Town is Okay. So, we'll do both. I am actually here to speak

[51:59] about friends of first responders. It's um a new initiative program that we are

[52:03] starting in partnership with New London Police and Fire. So, Chief Cman, they

[52:08] the New London police are starting the blue envelope. This is drivers on the

[52:13] autistic spectrum. So, this program is for drivers specific who have autism.

[52:18] So, anyone in our community who um is on the spectrum will receive a blue

[52:23] envelope if they choose. I'm you can pick one up at the school or here at the

[52:27] village office. And it's a program that's been adopted through other

[52:33] communities and what it is is a letter for these people. Um, and it gives some

[52:40] tips on what they can do um if they are driving and get pulled over because

[52:45] people on the sector do have um so

[52:53] I was not prepared to speak on this program. This was Do you want to speak

[52:56] on this program and I'll speak on mine and then we'll piggy back because

[52:58] they're they're one and the same but mine addresses students and drivers and

[53:03] his address drivers.

[53:14] » So basically I want to give police department for helping us and

[53:19] Sergeant Thomas for getting for this. What the blue envelope program does if

[53:25] we pull someone over, it enables the law enforcement officer to be able to uh

[53:32] recognize and handle the situation accordingly. And every officer will have

[53:39] this blue or every driver will have this blue envelope. They get pulled over,

[53:44] they show a blue envelope, and inside it, it will tell us name, date of birth,

[53:50] emergency contact, and their different like I I don't want to say triggers, but

[53:56] how to react with that driver. So, what we're doing is we're implementing the

[54:01] blue envelope here as well as when a new student starts or is in school and she

[54:09] starts her program, they also say, "Okay, we also have the ones that are

[54:13] going to be driving. New Avenue Police Department has this blue envelope

[54:18] program. So, they'll be in that and this. Our our goal is to ensure that we

[54:25] are able to interact with autistic children. We don't want to be, you know,

[54:30] unaware of what they what their triggers are. It enables us to have a safe and

[54:37] effective interaction with the driver. Some jurisdictions have a color seat

[54:42] belt. We haven't gone that far. We're going to start with this. If we get a

[54:46] lot of buy in, which I think we will, we're going to expand to say, "Okay,

[54:50] here's a blue envelope." Um, the goal is to roll this out April 1st. And at which

[54:56] time, since Sergeant Thomas is the traffic guy, is to have him explain it

[55:02] to the families if they need it. And then, you know, we'd like to get into

[55:07] the schools and drivers in and um explain this to them also. So, this goes

[55:13] out April 1st. We're going to start the blue envelope for our autistic drivers.

[55:17] Now, I don't think we have any drivers yet. And that's why since she'll know

[55:23] who they are, we can bring the families in or she can bring families in. Okay,

[55:27] this is our program, but oh, by the way, we have this you might want to look into

[55:32] also.

[55:40] Okay. So, my program u is called friends and first responders and empowering

[55:45] connections. So, the program goal is to foster meaningful connections and build

[55:50] trust between first responders and children and students with diverse

[55:53] abilities preschool through 12th grade by increasing awareness, interaction,

[55:58] and communications. This initiative aims to create a safer, more inclusive

[56:02] community where students feel recognized and supported by their local heroes.

[56:06] Additionally, it seeks to familiarize first responders with effective

[56:10] communication tools and strategies to better assist and engage with students

[56:14] who have limited or alternative communication methods, ensuring positive

[56:18] interactions in all community encounters. So, why this program

[56:22] matters? A couple years ago, we actually had an elementary student leave home and

[56:25] one of our new police officers found him at a gas station. Uh the student was

[56:30] nonverbal and unable to communicate their name or address. So with this

[56:34] program, it highlighted a gap and it's not about the care, it's about the

[56:39] tools. So this program fills that gap. So each of our

[56:44] police cruisers is going to have a binder. And currently we have 31

[56:50] families. We identified 33 families in our school district and 31 families are

[56:55] participating. So each of the police cruise providers will have an AAC

[57:01] communication board. So this stands for augmentative and alternative

[57:05] communication. All of our students with autism nonverbal or limited

[57:09] communication is familiar with this. They typically have an iPad. Obviously

[57:13] this is an iPad in age care. So we made a custom board for New London police and

[57:17] fire that is specific to first responders and um other things and

[57:23] questions that they may ask on a call. So, this isn't just for if a student's

[57:27] lost. If there is a medical emergency and JC has to respond, they will be able

[57:32] to communicate with that child. Um same with the police if they get pulled over

[57:35] or um or if they just see them in the community and have them play basketball

[57:40] with some of them. So, just that interaction with our local heroes at a

[57:44] community level. In addition, we have a sensory bag. So,

[57:49] a lot of students with autism or diverse abilities

[57:54] respond to tactile stimulation and different sensory items. So, in this bag

[57:59] we have um a sensory brush, we have fidgets, we have putty, we have

[58:04] sunglasses if the lights are too bright. And then we also have

[58:10] another communication device. We have a quick reference guide. So, along with

[58:15] this binder, we are going to do a roll call training with

[58:18] and the fire just to educate them a little bit more on autism, developmental

[58:24] delays, limited communication, how to use the AAC device, and then some

[58:29] deescalation techniques. And then our third tab here is like I

[58:35] said, we have 31 families who have bought into the program out of 33 and

[58:40] that's not those are just families that we identified at a school level. That

[58:43] doesn't include homeschooling students or other students who might attend

[58:46] outside of our district church. So anybody, this is open to anybody who

[58:50] lives in New Leon. They can um contact me. They can contact the police

[58:54] department and we will get them in this binder if they choose to. So we

[58:59] made a map of the 31 students who are participating. This map is an

[59:04] interactive Google map and it dropped a pen at each of their addresses. So our

[59:09] police department will have the map and Each student has an ID card and Harry

[59:16] Cameron's mom convented to show you guys, but we have all 31 students in

[59:21] here. They each have an ID card and that is a picture of the student, their name,

[59:27] their address, the parents name, parents phone number, and then three things that

[59:32] the child likes or enjoys. So, this is just to help our police and fire if they

[59:37] come up and see Cameron here. He loves cars. So if he's um escalated or if

[59:42] there's they need to distract him in some way, they can say, "Oh, I hear you

[59:46] like cars, or I hear you like drawing, or can you draw me something?"

[59:51] And then our third tab is just um it's about our program. It's

[59:56] the annual initiative plan. So parents, if they, like I said, if there's a

[1:00:00] homeschool family or somebody who's not participating and they would like to

[1:00:04] participate in this program, they can give them a copy of our program or

[1:00:07] goals. And then um a letter to the parent just explaining what all we need

[1:00:13] from them. And then there's also a consent form where the parent fills out

[1:00:17] the student's name, the grade, teacher address, um, and just three things that

[1:00:22] they like. And then the last part, like I said,

[1:00:25] we're going to do a training with our first responders and we are implementing

[1:00:30] this on April 1st. And it piggybacks off of the blue

[1:00:35] envelope program like he had said, those are for drivers, but these 31 students

[1:00:40] that we identified are non-drivers. So, how can we meet the needs of these

[1:00:44] children as well? So, supporting them when they do get to driving age.

[1:00:49] Anybody have anything? Any questions on that?

[1:00:54] » I think it's a great idea. Super great idea. Thanks for doing this. Super

[1:00:59] great. I do have a request. Can we get a binder, a complete binder to have here

[1:01:04] as a reference for the village here just in case somebody should stop by and want

[1:01:08] to see or talk or >> Yes. So, we have eight Well, we have

[1:01:12] nine binders total. Um, eight for eight cruisers and then one for the fire, but

[1:01:16] we can make another one. I just the cement.

New Lebanon's Work Session and Regular Council Meeting Part 1 3-3-26

Transcript