The Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission held a series of special meetings on Wednesday, July 3, to address issues arising from the sudden departure of two commissioners and the commission’s finance director.
Commissioners Chris Clifton and Chris Jones and finance director Scott Bardin all resigned in the wake of a tense commission meeting on June 26, at which more than two dozen people addressed the commission during public comments, with most of them urging Clifton to step down.
Clifton, who had been the commission’s chair, and Jones both resigned the following day. Bardin followed a day later, on Friday, June 28. That same day, the four remaining commissioners voted unanimously to reinstate executive director Mike Maloney, who had been suspended with pay two weeks earlier. Although few details regarding Maloney’s suspension have been discussed openly at commission meetings, it appeared that Clifton initiated the action.
At the July 3 special meetings, commissioners voted 4-0 to require two commissioners’ signatures on all contracts and that commissioners review all contracts at the commission’s meetings.
The commission also discussed the need to hire a new finance director.
Commissioner Steve Holifield, who had been the commission’s vice chair, served as chair for the special meetings. He noted that Bardin had resigned “abruptly, with no notice,” and recommended that Maloney be instructed to post the open position on the city’s website.
Holifield said that he’d like city finance director Michael Akins to have input regarding candidates, and Maloney said Akins has provided advice on financial matters since Bardin’s resignation.
After a motion from commissioner Kolin Paulk, the commission voted 4-0 to have Maloney post the job.
The commission voted 4-0 to have all of the sitting commissioners added to the signature cards for the CAPC bank account, along with Maloney, and to remove Clifton, Jones and Bardin from the signature cards. Maloney told the commission that CAPC personnel were unable to process payments and needed approval from the commission to do so.
“We need approval from the commission to go ahead and, upon the approval of the invoices, go ahead and start making our payments again,” Maloney said.
Maloney also said CAPC personnel were unable to make any online payments since none possessed city credit cards.
Commissioners voted unanimously to procure credit cards for Maloney, administrative manager Danyelle Harris and group sales coordinator Janalee Kaylor. The cards for Maloney and Harris will each have a $5,000 limit while Kaylor’s card will have a $7,500 limit. Maloney explained that Kaylor’s position requires more travel that would be paid for with a credit card. The commission also voted to pay off the current credit card before the new cards are procured.
At Maloney’s suggestion, the commission voted to pay a total of $10,000 to the Ozark Mountain Daredevils to secure their scheduled appearance at the 77th Original Ozark Folk Festival in September.
Maloney said tickets for the show, which will headline the folk festival, are already being sold.
Maloney suggested that the commission hold a one-hour workshop at 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in The Auditorium. Holifield said the commission could not make a decision on that suggestion at a special meeting.
