Hanna Council Votes To Allow Mayor To Fire Employees

September 28, 2023 |

Photo – Hanna Town Sign – Bigfoot99 file photo

Amid public protest, the Hanna town council votes to delay an ordinance change allowing the mayor to fire town employees.

Around 200 people attended the September 12^th Hanna town council meeting. Presumably, most were there to voice their disapproval of a change to the town’s nuisance ordinance. Following the council’s refusal to vote on Ordinance 401, Mayor Jon Ostling moved onto the next order of business.

Mayor Ostling said Ordinance 402 gives the mayor the power to fire a town employee with the consent of the town council or the employee’s immediate supervisor.

Mayor Ostling said the town clerk, treasurer, marshal, town attorney, municipal judge, and department heads are exempt from the ordinance change. The mayor said the listed positions may only be removed for incompetency or neglect of duty. However, the mayor is the one to decide if an employee is incompetent or neglectful.

When Mayor Ostling finished reading the ordinance amendment, members of the public in attendance voiced their disapproval. At least one person felt the mayor was giving himself too much power.

Ordinance 402 was passed on first reading at the July 11^th Hanna town council meeting. Town Attorney Patrick Brady said the main reason for the ordinance amendment is to eliminate a town employee’s right to a costly due process hearing upon termination. In layman’s terms, Ordinance 402 makes all Hanna town workers, except the positions deemed exempt, at-will employees, meaning they can be fired at any time for any reason. The amended ordinance was passed for the second time during the August 8^th meeting.

During the September 12^th Hanna town council meeting, Councilman Bill Dys motioned to postpone the third and final vote on Ordinance 402. Councilman Roger Hawks seconded, and the motion passed.

Unlike voting to table an agenda item, postponing a vote does not require the council to say when the motion will be voted on again.

The next Hanna town council meeting is at 6:30 pm on October 10^th.