Special Meeting Set in Sallisaw to Conduct Business

The Sallisaw Board of City Commissioners has called for a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the City Council Chambers.

The special meeting agenda items are to fill spots left vacant when a temporary restraining order was placed on Sallisaw Mayor Jim Hudgens. District Judge Jeff Payton approved the order on Monday after attorney Frank Sullivan III asked for the motion on behalf of his client City Manager Clayton Lucas II. Sullivan argued that Hudgens, who was appointed mayor earlier this year after an elected mayor could not serve, was not appointed correctly as directed by the Sallisaw City Charter. Judge Payton agreed, which allowed Lucas to keep his job at least for the time being.

But the mayor has certain obligations which must now be taken on by someone else.

On the agenda are:

-Name a person to represent the city of Sallisaw at a settlement conference in a case entitled Carpenter vs. City of Sallisaw. (City officials do not have to comment on cases against the city, to protect the city, so the nature of the case is not public knowledge.)

-Discuss and consider approval of a resolution authorizing settlement relating to the case, which is CIV-17-42-SPS in the U.S. District Court (in Muskogee). (This is regarding the Carpenter case again. At the last commission meeting the city commissioners approved Hudgens acting on behalf of the city at the settlement conference, which he cannot do now.)

-Discuss and consider authorizing a person or persons to sign documents, checks, contracts, etc., normally required of the mayor.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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