The City of Ozark is hoping to make its aldermen meetings more efficient. During their meeting this past Monday the city’s aldermen voted for a number of changes to how they conduct business.
Meetings will now start earlier, at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:00, and the city will be allowing certain items to be approved in just one meeting with limited discussion by being placed on what's known as a consent agenda. Typically, items require a first and second reading with public comment and board comment periods.
The city will not allow all types of business to be conducted via consent agenda, some items will still go through the full process, and citizens and board members can move any item off the consent agenda and provide public comment. Ozark City Attorney Amanda Callaway explained that “any member from the public can sign up with our city clerk by noon the Friday before, or anyone who attends the meeting can sign up before the consent agenda is set.” The city typically posts meeting agendas by the Friday before the meeting.
The Aldermen also approved a change to the limit on expenses that must come before the board for formal approval. The city’s charter outlines a process for purchasing. Previously all expenses over $20 thousand dollars “not available through an existing purchasing contract or a cooperative purchasing agreement,” required Board of Aldermen approval, which typically takes two board meetings. That amount has been raised to $75 thousand dollars. Purchases under that amount can now be approved by the city administrator. Alderman Bruce Galloway introduced the measure.
He said the city had held it at $20 thousand for the entire time that he has served continuously on the board, “and it was that way ten years ago.” Galloway explained, “we have not kept up with the realities of increased expenses.”
All changes passed unanimously. Detailed explanations of the changes can be found online in the packet for Ozark’s June 2 meeting.