The agenda for the Eureka Springs City Council meeting Monday evening started as always with a call to order, roll call, pledge of allegiance and agenda approval, followed by approval of the previous meeting’s minutes. It was that fifth item where the meeting hit its first snag.
Alderman Kristi Kendrick said she objected to the way the June 12 minutes had been written because they were counter to Robert’s Rules of Order, which states that minutes are to indicate what was done, not what was said. She cited specific examples to illustrate her point and distributed copies of the minutes she amended according to her reading of RRO. She moved to defer approving the minutes until City Clerk/Treasurer Ann Armstrong had reviewed her version. Vote on the motion was 3-2, aldermen Bob Thomas and Mickey Schneider voting No. Mayor Butch Berry abstained, and since the motion needed four votes, it failed.
Kendrick then moved to amend the minutes according to the changes she had made. City Attorney Tim Weaver said Kendrick needed to tell council what the changes were, but Kendrick disagreed, again citing Robert’s Rules of Order, that she had provided her motion in writing and did not need to read it out loud. Weaver insisted Kendrick was not giving aldermen and council viewers enough time to read what she had provided.
Alderman Terry McClung commented by looking at Kendrick’s version, he “would not have a clue what we had talked about.” Alderman Mickey Schneider added the whole matter was superfluous and not being handled appropriately.
Alderman David Mitchell moved to table discussion and look at it another time, and Kendrick seconded. Schneider commented the whole amendment process had been a waste of their time, but vote on Mitchell’s motion was 3-2, Schneider and Thomas voting No. Berry voted Yes, so the motion to defer passed and will be brought to the table later.