The Winslow City Council met on Sept. 27 and heard reports from City Manager Stephen Pauken on recent city activities. Finance Director Elias Jouen gave the monthly financial report and he and Pauken reported on the actual costs including the city’s matching funds for the Renaissance V project, which is considerably higher than expected. It was noted that the original estimate was for $438,223 but the actual cost has totaled $587,210. It was noted by Pauken that anticipated work on the Route 66 Park would be delayed due to inaccurate cost estimates and so would the Renaissance VI project since funding will not be available to match those costs.
There were four people who spoke during the call to the public. Lawrence Katoney spoke of a problem he said he had with the police department. Ray Rardin spoke giving a list of things Officer Austin Shipley had done wrong during his time on the police force including tampering with evidence, using a Taser on a 15-year-old girl and other things he said should have gotten him fired. Jamie Owen spoke with praise for Rardin. Pete Henderson spoke about the need for a citizens’ review board for the police department. There were calls from Rardin and others complaining that the focus group was selected by the city for the PERF (Police Executive Research Forum) interviews with no announcement or possibility for people to ask to be on that group.
Before announcing the call to the public, Mayor Robin Boyd said that there used to be a requirement that persons speaking in that segment should not attack persons present or not and that such had recently become a problem. He said if that continued the council might have to cease having a call to the public. During this meeting no such behavior transpired.
The council approved proclamations in support of October as Domestic Violence Prevention Month and Oct. 9-15 as Fire Prevention Week. The first proclamation was accepted by Teresa Warren, Gina McCauley and Monica Gose who spoke about Alice’s Place and things they were doing. Six firemen accepted the second proclamation.
The council also went into executive session for legal advice regarding pending litigation, which could affect the city’s water rights. Water rights Attorney David Brown was in attendance and addressed the council. No action was taken after the executive session.
The consent calendar contained approvals of the check register and minutes of the Sept. 13 council meeting.
