Council also expected to finalize ballot language for measure to make city recorder an appointed position
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Ashland City Council will consider both a contract for an interim city manager and the selection process to fill the role at its regular business meeting Tuesday.
A contract to appoint Deputy City Manager and Acting City Manager Sabrina Cotta to the interim position will be up for a vote from council. The contract will grant Cotta “the authority to establish internal rules and procedures which the Employee deems necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the City,” as the city charter allows and will be effective Feb. 1, according to meeting materials.
If council approves the contract, Cotta will receive a salary equivalent to a step 4 on the city manager salary schedule with an additional 10% in recognition of her dual roles as deputy and interim city manager. As of August 2022, the most recent information readily available in city records, step 4 was more than $14,300 per month, or $171,651 per year. Cotta will also receive a monthly car allowance of $400, vacation accrual, 80 hours of administrative leave and support for opportunities of personal advancement, according to meeting materials.
Council will discuss the process for seeking a permanent city manager. Council may choose between hiring a recruiting firm to seek candidates or direct Human Resources to seek someone internally to fill the position, according to meeting materials.
Council will also consider and vote on priorities in Ashland Parks, schools, and ballot language for the May special election.
Council will vote on the second reading of a curfew for all properties managed by Ashland Parks & Recreation. If council approves the change, all parks properties will close at midnight and reopen at 5 a.m. Ashland residents will be permitted to move through but not remain in city parks during these hours, according to meeting materials.
Council will be asked to approve a change to the city budget to reflect an additional revenue of $11,961 from three Ashland Parks Foundation grants. The funds will be used by Ashland Parks and Recreation for equipment purchases including an electric leaf blower, if approved.
A change to the sergeant at arms at council meetings and the status of the city recorder could appear on the May ballot if approved by council Tuesday. The Ashland Police Chief is currently required to attend all council meetings as the sergeant at arms. A measure on the ballot would ask voters to amend the city charter allowing the police chief to appoint an alternative to serve in his or her stead. Voters would also be asked if the city recorder should move from an elected official to a hired employee, according to meeting materials.
Council will also vote on a roof replacement at Briscoe School at a cost of $535,769, an update to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the purchase of internal networking equipment.
The meeting is set to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Ashland City Council chamber, 1175 East Main St. Proceedings are cablecast live on Channel 9 (or 180), streamed online at rvtv.sou.edu (RVTV Prime), and posted online at bit.ly/coavideos the day after the meeting.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
