Abrupt vote on firing Audubon, Iowa, clerk violates state open meetings law, expert says

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140128/NEWS/140128664/1685#abrupt-vote-on-firing-audubon-iowa-clerk-violates-state-open-meetings-law-expert-says

Published Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 1:00 am / Updated at 3:52 am

By Andrew J. Nelson

AUDUBON, Iowa — The city clerk remains on the job here two weeks after the City Council voted to appoint someone else to the position.

Lora Hansen, who has been the clerk since 1987, plans to stay on until she is forced out, she said Monday night after a contentious council meeting.

At its Jan. 13 meeting the council voted 4-1 to appoint someone else — Janet Nelson of nearby Ross — to the position, but she later turned down the job. At Monday night's meeting, the council voted to leave Hansen in the position until it can get legal advice on hiring an interim clerk.

The vote to remove Hansen — a city employee since 1980 — came as a surprise to many in this city of about 2,175 some 80 miles northeast of Omaha.

FULL story at link.