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The Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed an agenda item that requested the board consider what to do regarding study sessions.

The agenda item, introduced by Alderman Derick Mann, was put before the board to discuss “whether or not study sessions should be televised. This is so we can give staff instruction on what we would like to see done,” he said. He further explained that they could decide which ones would be televised, or if all or none should be televised.

Alderman Daniel Berry said that he preferred that study sessions not be televised.

“My opinion is that board meetings be televised, special called sessions be televised, study sessions not be,” he said.

Alderman Jenna Amacher said she was “fine with study sessions not being televised so long as we have minutes available to the public. I think, at a minimum, we should have minutes of those available.”

She added that she felt the previously untelevised study session made way “for more candid discussion.”

Mann clarified that the study sessions would still be open to the public, just not televised, and agreed with Amacher about untelevised study sessions promoting more candid discussion.

Mayor Ray Knowis added that since no official decisions would be made, it would be impossible for the City Recorder to write all that was said during the meeting.

City Recorder Lori Ashley added, “It would be more like transcribing the meeting, and that’s hard to do with this group.”

Amacher agreed, and said she recommended that Ashley “just share the sentiments of the study sessions,” and said Ashley could record the BoMA’s “proposed next step[s].”

“What is the product of the study session, that’s what should be recorded,” she said.

Mann asked City Administrator Jason Quick if the proposal would work, and Quick responded that it would, and that session notes could be made available online.

There was no official vote regarding the future of study sessions, but Knowis said “it’s kind of a head nod” that everyone on the board agreed to.