Directors move forward on contracts for city administrator, internal auditor

FORT SMITH — The city Board of Directors took a step forward Tuesday in creating employment agreements with the two employees reporting directly to it.

The board approved employment agreement negotiation with the city administrator and internal auditor. Carl Geffken is the city administrator while Tracey Shockley is the internal auditor.

In a memo to Geffken, Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman said both the city administrator and internal auditor positions report to the board. Both are scheduled separately to review annual performance evaluation with the board at its Dec. 17 meeting.

The resolution allows the city attorney and a member of the board, which could be one board member or two board members, to negotiate framework of an employment agreement before the review.

“While the details of the performance reviews would have bearing on the final provisions contained in the documents, the intent is for the framework of the new agreements to be completed in advance so that consideration of approval could happen immediately after the performance reviews if all parties are in agreement and the board votes to approve the employment agreements,” Dingman wrote.

The matter was discussed during the board’s Nov. 12 session. Kevin Settle, At-Large Position 6 director and vice mayor, said the evaluations of the two are scheduled for Dec. 17, and he, along with Ward 3 Director Lavon Morton placed the resolution on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, according to a summary of the meeting available on the city website.

Ward 2 Director Andre’ Good asked Settle on Tuesday what his rationale was for resolution. Settle said he believed it would allow more stability in the city, with it ensuring employees reporting to the board aren’t looking for other positions because they would be locked in for a certain time by employment contracts, among other benefits.

The board also approved appointing Settle as “point person” to negotiate the contracts with the help of City Attorney Jerry Canfield of the law firm Daily and Woods.