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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

Problems with the records of earlier meetings prompted discussion of possible alternative methods for recording minutes of Cumberland City Council.

Council member David Dixon noted some problems during the council’s meeting this week.

“I hate to be the one to bring this up every month,” said Dixon. “Last month, we all talked about and came to the agreement that the minutes needed to be more in-depth. And then we get minutes for Nov. 13 that are a little over half a page.”

Dixon said he had prepared some suggested corrections and came up with about three pages.

“I didn’t go back to the several other minutes that we still haven’t approved, Sept. 11, Sept. 13, Oct. 4 and Oct. 9. I still feel those minutes need addressed as well,” said Dixon.

“I’m a brief person,” said Mayor Carl Hatfield. “I like to keep things as brief and specific and as too the point as possible. The KRS (Kentucky Revised Statutes) only requires action taken be recorded on the minutes. That includes a resolution, a motion or an ordinance.”

Dixon advised the council of the official requirements for minutes.

“Minutes are the official record of the city. They can be brief or lengthy depending on the length of the agenda subjects and the desire of the meeting body or the presiding officer,” said Dixon.

“We don’t need seven or eight pages to tell us what’s already in an ordinance or resolution,” said Hatfield. “But if the council wants to go that route, it’s a council meeting, it’s a council decision, and if that’s what you want we can do it word for word.”

“The minutes should always be accurate and concise,” added council member Charles Raleigh. “We’ve had many times when we’ve asked them to be corrected. Once we pass these, this is how it’s going to be. This is how it’s going to be reflected in the books. We’ve had minutes that haven’t been corrected as we’ve asked.”

Council member Carolyn Elliott noted there have been requests for corrections in the past.

“Since Aug. 11, four of them have not had corrections made that we had asked for,” said Elliot. “One was a resolution that was changed, but it was not recorded on the minutes that it had changed.”

After much discussion, the council voted to approve the minutes for the Nov. 13 and Oct. 4 meetings, leaving the Sept. 11, Sept. 13, Oct. 4 and Oct. 9 minutes still unapproved.

In other activity, council:

* Passed a resolution on coal severance tax;

* Adopted a proclamation recognizing residents Cleon Cornett and James “Muggins” Bennett for their volunteer work.

Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com