Council Votes 5-0 for City Manager Change

What was predicted to be a 3-2 City Council vote to keep City Manager Bill Galletly on board turned into a 5-0 vote to terminate him effective Oct. 10, 2006, during a late-night Executive Session Tuesday. Council went into the session at 7:15 and came out at about 11:15.

Here's what we know about this surprising turn of events:

--One councilman took the lead in acting as a facilitator in reaching a decision and all efforts were put forth to get a unanimous vote, avoiding what has been a split decision in the past. "Whatever we do, we do it as a group," was the mantra, and as the nearly three hour meeting progressed that was achieved. "It was most important that we not come out as a divided council," one source said. "It was a very adult meeting and we did not differ all that much," another source said.

--A search for a new city manager will be launched immediately, with Councilors Larry Parham and Terry Ryan taking the lead, seeking city managers or assistant city managers with experience in running a city with a budget of $25-30 million. A selection committee of citizens will be formed to assist, one source said. "There will be citizen input." As for assistant city manager Debbie Mavity, who left on vacation this week, "she is welcome to apply if she wants the job," the source said. The council will eventually pick the next city manager, hopefully with a "unanimous" vote to take fuel off the fire.

--Why Oct. 10? This gives the city 120 days for Galletly to finish up some very important projects and educate others on those that cannot be finished in this time.
Galletly has 14 months until retirement and will be "made whole" in the process, a source said.

Another councilman, Larry Parham, said he would "devote every minute that I can to seek the right new City Manager and would involve the citizens of Grove in the process."
"This is the biggest job we have at this time, finding the right person to lead the city."

City Manager Bill Galletly said Wednesday "it is now time for the community to heal.
"I was asked to come in here three and a half years ago to effect change, and even with all the friction, change has occurred and Grove will never go back to the old ways. A great deal has been accomplished and we have worked towards the common good.
"Grove is a better place in many respects," he said.
"Now, the people can hopefully sit down and work towards consensus, in harmony, without friction," he said.

After the Executive Session ended, fireworks ensued, between Troy Kyman, Grove businessman, and Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls, with the mayor being called a liar, according to sources. The argument was over the firing of Police Chief Mark Wall.
"That subject is over," one councilman said Wednesday, as Wall has accepted a position in the District Attorney's office and has been taken off the Grove city payroll.

More than 200 people attended the meeting, overflowing to the adjacent meeting room and out into the hall, where speakers had been set up. The City Fire Marshall was present, making sure that fire laws were being obeyed.

The council took no action on the agenda item dealing with the Fraternal Order of Police negotiations.

In other action, the Council:
--named Larry Mathia as Employee of the Month. Mathia has worked for the city for 16 years and is currently a GMSA foreman over the meter reading department.
--heard from Lisa Friden, Grove Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, who asked for action regarding street closings for the upcoming GroveFest, which was approved by the council.
--approved $5400 for MKEC Engineering to do exploratory drilling on two possible cemetery sites.
--approved purchase of a Kubota Mule for the street department, used in cleanup along the right of ways, from Anderson Car & Tractor in Joplin for $11,300. This unit has a hydrostatic drive rather than belt drive, which the streets department said failed frequently.
--rescheduled the regular July council meeting from July 4, a holiday, to July 6, at 3 p.m. in Room 5, City Hall.
--discussed the fiscal year budget draft, which has been finished, and listened to representatives of the Grove Chamber of Commerce regarding a cut from $27,000 last year to $10,000 this year. The city claimed it was not getting a sound quarterly report from the Chamber, while Lisa Friden replied that she learned of that issue only two days ago and thought she was providing all of the requested information. The money is used only for marketing Grove, not for salaries. Allen Caldwell, owner of the Gourmet Shop on the corner of Third and Main, found fault with the city giving $75,000 to the Grand Lake Association for a four-day event, while the Chamber markets the city 365 days a year. "We promote the town, not a tour," he said.
--renewed a contract with DOCS Service Inc., which provides for daily meals for the Grove Senior Center, with 48% of the dailyi meal count now being delievered to the homes of homebound individuals. Grove contributes $5000 to the organization each year and furnishes one custodian as needed for upkeep.
The Mayor was notified of cable television changes for Suddenlink Communications, the company which purchased the Grove Cox franchise earlier this year, that effective June 19 the Movie Plex will be dropped from Expanded Basic Channel 35.