Residents question comment rules; car policy passes
Staff writer
After residents questioned both the proposal and their opportunity to
discuss it, Peabody City Council members approved a policy Monday allowing police officers to take city vehicles home.
“If a person is serious about working at Peabody, I think they would have moved to Peabody,” resident Randy Dallke said. “We wouldn’t have to worry about this taking a car home and putting it in another town.”
Council members Linda Martinez, Jennifer Bush, and Trevor Hamm approved the policy nonetheless.
A housing shortage has made moving to Peabody difficult for employees and teachers, Martinez said.
Dallke opened public comment by asking whether residents could discuss the policy when it came up for a vote. They had not been allowed to speak on it at a previous meeting, he said.
Mayor Bailey Penner told him that he could address it during opening public comments. Comments would be allowed on new business, but not when an item returned as old business for a vote.
“But we’re still trying to hash all of that out,” Penner said.
Public health and safety officer Denise Jantz raised the same objection later.
“We weren’t given the opportunity on that one,” she said. “I’m just wondering how — or is that just whatever you guys feel?”
Procedures are still being worked out, Penner said.
The vehicle policy allows eligible full-time officers living within 20 road miles of city limits to take assigned police vehicles home. Those living farther away may request a waiver from city administrator Paul Leeker.
Limited personal use within the department’s jurisdiction and brief stops along a commute are permitted. Officers must remain equipped and able to respond during authorized off-duty use.
Dallke questioned whether taking a vehicle home would mean an officer was on call all the time.
City attorney Tim Hodge repeatedly instructed council members to direct questions through Penner, who could refer them to Leeker. Staff questions and recommendations also should go through the administrator, Hodge said.
“Public comment is not to be a dialogue time,” he said. “It is to hear what your people have to say.”
Those instructions extended to Jantz and zoning administrator Pandea Smith when they sought direction during staff reports.
How to handle projects completed without building permits before she became administrator was a question for council members, Smith said.
She should work with Leeker and other staff members on a recommendation before asking council members to decide, Hodge said.
A similar exchange followed when Jantz raised concerns about property cleanups.
The city has not completed its first referred abatement, and more are coming, she said. Residents were told to mow within 10 days. She questioned how quickly the city could finish work when they did not comply.
She should work with Leeker on a recommendation, Hodge said.
Contracting for mowing, tree trimming, and larger cleanups had been addressed in a previous report, Jantz said.
“I brought it up last month because I knew within 30 days we were going to be at this point,” she said.
Penner directed her to work with Leeker on finding contractors.
After a 15-minute closed session on personnel, council members voted 3-0 to authorize Penner and Hodge to finalize a six-month city administrator contract for $32,500, with another review in six months.
A second, 10-minute closed session concerned what was billed as a contractual agreement and attorney-client matters. No action followed.
Frank Oursler, recommended at the previous meeting, was confirmed for a vacant council seat by a 3-0 vote. He was away and will be sworn in later, Penner said.
Council members also approved a request for $46,125 in grant reimbursement for multiplex construction at 201 and 203 N. Spruce St.
Significant rust was present on the water system’s standpipe and pump station, public works superintendent Aaron Waddell said. A remotely operated vehicle will inspect the water tower Friday.
Draining the tower would strain the water system, so a contract provision allowed that work to be deferred for a year while the inspection proceeds, Waddell said.