Town Council

PUBLIC NOTICE THE PINETOP-LAKESIDE TOWN COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025, AT 2:00 P.M. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 325 W. WHITE MOUNTAIN BOULEVARD, LAKESIDE AZ 85929 AGENDA AMENDED A. Call to Order Mayor ➢ Roll Call and Ascertain Quorum B. Business Before the Council Public comment will be taken at the beginning of each agenda item, after the subject has been announced by the Mayor and explained by staff. Any citizen, who wishes, may speak on each agenda item for five (5) minutes on each agenda item before or after Council discussion. Questions from Council members, however, may be directed to staff or a member of the public through the Mayor at any time. B.1 Discussion, Consideration, and Possible Legal Advice Regarding the Mayor Irwin Resignation or Other Employment Options for Town Manager Keith Johnson. Upon a public majority vote of the members constituting a quorum, a public body may hold an executive session for the following purposes: A. (1) (3) (4) Upon a public majority vote of the members constituting a quorum, a public body may hold an executive session but only for the following purpose: 1. Discussion or consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salaries, disciplining or resignation of a public officer, appointee or employee of any public body, except that with the exception of salary discussions, an officer, appointee or employee may demand that the discussion or consideration occur at a public meeting. The public body shall provide the officer, appointee or employee with written notice of the executive session as is appropriate but not less than twenty-four hours for the officer, appointee or employee to determine to be maintained as confidential or consideration should occur at a public meeting. 3. Discussion or consultation for legal advice with the attorney or attorneys of the public body. 4. Discussion or consultation with the attorneys of the public body in order to consider its position and instruct its attorneys regarding the public body’s position regarding contracts that are the subject of AMENDED Town Council Special Meeting – June 5, 2025 negotiations, in pending or contemplated litigation or in settlement discussions conducted in order to avoid or resolve litigation. ➢ Town Council will Discuss and Consider the Letter of Resignation Submitted by Town Manager Keith Johnson. The Council may Seek Legal Advice from the Town Attorney Regarding Implications and Available Options. Town Council will reconvene to the Open Meeting to Consider Take Action on Item B.1 including: 1) Accept or propose modifications to the resignation of Town Manager Keith Johnson. 2) Place the Town Manager on administrative leave. 3) Consider termination of the Town Manger’s employment with or without Cause. C. Adjournment Mayor Irwin AMENDED Posted on June 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the following locations: Kristi Salskov, CMC Town Hall Town Website Town Clerk 325 W. White Mountain Blvd. https://pinetoplakesideaz.gov Lakeside, AZ 85929 Pinetop U.S. Post Office Lakeside U.S. Post Office 712 E. White Mountain Blvd. 1815 W. Jackson Lane Pinetop, AZ 85935 Lakeside, AZ 85929 Note: This meeting is open to the public. All interested people are welcome to attend. A copy of agenda background material provided to Council Members, with the exception of material relating to possible executive session, are available for public inspection at the Town Clerk’s Office, 325 W. White Mountain Boulevard, Lakeside, AZ 85929, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or online at https://pinetoplakesideaz.gov AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT: The Town of Pinetop-Lakeside intends to comply with the A.D.A. If you are disabled or physically challenged and need special accommodations to participate, please contact the Town Clerk at (928) 368-8696 Ext. 221 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.  •.. PINETOPf LAKESIDE --­ Celebrate the Seasons June 2, 2025 Mayor Stephanie Irwin Vice Mayor Sterling Beus Councilor Jerry Smith Councilor Taber Heisler Councilor Jeff Phillips Councilor Harry Turner Councilor Todd Ferneau Re: Resignation of Town Manager Keith Johnson AMENDED Dear Mayor Irwin, It has been my pleasure to work with you serving the citizens of the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside for the past nine years. Thank you for taking a chance when you hired me and I believe that I have proven my worth by providing a steady hand on the tiller. Please accept my resignation effective August 2, 2025. Last Wednesday night and Thursday morning Council member Heisler submitted two Public Records requests. See attached Exhibit A, which includes my response. He followed up Friday afternoon with a request for an Emergency Council meeting with concurrence by Vice Mayor Beus and Council member Phillips, see Exhibit B. This request was received at 1:26 p.m. and asked for the meeting to take place at 2:00 p.m. The three agenda items for the emergency meeting were: 1. Executive session for legal advice regarding the performance of the Town Manager. 2. Executive session for legal advice regarding the performance of the Town Finance Director. 3. Executive session for legal advice regarding selection or appointment of Acting Town Manager. This request was later rescinded, see Exhibit C, after my conversation with Vice Mayor Beus when I let him know that I had already written a letter of resignation. I asked him what they expected to achieve, and his response was that they wanted to place me and Assistant Manager/Finance Director Kevin Rodolph on Administrative Leave pending an investigation. I asked him what that was based on. I did not receive a clear answer on what the investigation was for. I believe that this is a witch hunt because I disagreed with two initiatives that some of the Council have been in favor of. My responsibility as a Town Manager is to provide guidance to the Council in their decisions. Sometimes, this requires me to play the devil's advocate so that alternative solutions can be considered. This is an attack on my integrity and has created an untenable work environment. Town of Pinetop-Lakeside - 325 W. White Mountain Blvd., Lakeside AZ 85929 Tel# (928) 368-8696 Fax# (928) 368-8528 www.pinetoplakesideaz.gov I am very proud of all that we, as a team, have accomplished in the nine years I have worked for the Town. That list includes: 1. Helped lead a campaign, statewide, with Mayor Irwin to stop the Legislature from removing the Sales Tax on Food. That alone would have cost the Town $1 million in lost revenue. 2. Working with the donors to successfully appraise and purchase the Woodland Lake Park Tract. 3. Purchasing the Town Hall. 4. Successfully securing a bond to pay off the PSPRS unfunded liability. 5. Building a new Police Department building. 6. Many improvements throughout the Town. 7. Leading the Town and its employees through the Pandemic and setting up protocols to help keep the Town and its departments functioning. There is a lot of work on my list that needs to be wrapped up or prepared to be handed off in the next couple of months. Some of these are: 1. Completing the Budget. 2. Complete IGAs with both Fire Districts. 3. Acquiring the Woodland Lake Park Tract. 4. Beginning the Annexation campaign, if it is going to move forward. 5. Bringing someone up to speed on all of my files and work that need to be followed up over the next few months. I want my employees to know how much it has meant to me to have been able to work and serve our community together. With the Council's support over the past nine years, we have raised their pay significantly, in order to be competitive, and given them the tools they need to be successful, and they have always risen to the challenge. This year I asked them to "Lift Where They Stand", and they have. My last day will be August 2, 2025. I am asking to receive my full severance pay of six {6) months' salary. I have served the Council and the Town faithfully and honestly and don't want to leave this organization in a bind. If this is acceptable then I will work with the Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director to complete the Budget for fiscal year 2026 and to prepare all of my records and files to be handed over to the next Town Manager. If these terms are not acceptable then my last day is Thursday, June 5th at the close of business. I am also including a copy of Kevin Rodolph's resignation letter. Town of Pinetop-Lakeside - 325 W. White Mountain Blvd., Lakeside AZ 85929 Tel# (928) 368-8696 Fax# (928) 368-8528 www.pinetoplakesideaz.gov