Council hears updates on flood buyouts, director recruitments and moves to closed session

Council Member Fuller asked for routine status reports on the FEMA buyout process for properties in Ward 2, saying residents want clarity about timelines. Staff reported the city had concluded a bid process for title and appraisal services and planned to present contracts on the December council agenda; once contracts are approved, consultants will start appraisals and title searches. Staff said a weekly report is already sent to listed members and offered quarterly public status briefings. Fuller asked that second‑ward council members be added to distribution lists.

On staffing, Brooke Shar (Miss Shar) said the city contracted a recruiting firm (MGT). Parks, recreation and public maintenance director interviews are scheduled for January (five candidates) and planning and zoning director interviews are scheduled for early December (six candidates), and staff said they are accelerating the process to secure higher‑quality applicants.

Near the end of the meeting a council member asked for a brief pause to note the Nov. 22 anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination. The council then moved to go into closed executive session under the statute cited in the transcript as "reserve statute 1610.021" to discuss litigation, personnel and privileged communications; the motion was made by Council Member Team and seconded by Council Member Fuller, and the clerk called the roll. The meeting proceeded to the closed session motion with no public vote on other items recorded at that point.