OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Payson Town Council Regular Meeting – January 8, 2025: Interim Town Manager Appointment Tabled, Liquor License Approved

Town Council & Planning and Zoning — Wednesday, January 8, 2025
BodyPayson, Arizona
SessionTown Council & Planning and Zoning
DateWednesday, January 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:30:15

Transcript — Verbatim
0:28

Common council to order.

0:34

Time for the invocation.

0:37

Roll call.

0:37

I'm sorry.

0:43

Invocation.

0:43

You were right.

0:44

Jim, you messed up.

0:46

Read your meeting, Jim.

0:49

Bad coaching.

0:50

Okay, if that's the first mistake you make all year, we're good.

0:53

Is Laurie Thompson present?

0:57

Yes.

0:58

So I guess we're understanding.

1:06

Thank you, Council members of the staff for everything.

1:10

On behalf of New Beginnings, I just want to say as we go into 2025, we just recently celebrated a uh Christmas event at New Beginnings.

1:18

And we want to thank the community for all their donations of toys.

1:22

Culver's was very uh nice and did a giving tree.

1:25

We were able to help 53 families.

1:28

Um a hundred and thirty-seven children received gifts and got to do Christmas pictures, and we served over 200 people on our Christmas event.

1:36

So we want to thank the community for that.

1:38

Shall we pray?

1:40

Dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the many blessings that you have given us living here in Payson.

1:48

Thank you for the people in our community, that we can be such a great great place to live.

1:54

We just ask tonight that you be with our first responders, um, especially those on the Horton Fire, that you just protect them and give them strength.

2:04

We also ask you to be with those families in California and those firefighters as they fight those those fires and keep them safe.

2:12

As we enter 2025, dear father, we just thank you for our council members.

2:18

We thank you for all of them who dedicate themselves and give up their time.

2:22

We ask you to be with them.

2:24

We ask you to give them wisdom, a spirit of cooperation, and a spirit of transparency.

2:30

We also thank you for our dedicated town employees as we go through this time of change.

2:36

May they also have wisdom and cooperation.

2:41

And as we move forward, we just want everyone to work together for what's best for Payson.

2:47

In Jesus' name we pray.

2:48

Amen.

2:49

Amen.

2:53

Well, can you lead us in the pledge of police?

2:56

I pledge to the lie of the United States of America.

3:14

Now we have a roll call.

3:16

Absolutely.

3:16

Thank you.

3:19

Thank you.

3:27

Our next item is discussion and possible action concerning selection of a vice mayor.

3:42

No, other button.

3:43

I can't find on the screen, Mr.

3:46

Ferris.

3:47

Oh that's we're used to those.

3:55

Mr.

3:56

Ferris.

3:57

Yeah, I make a motion to uh nominate Susie Tubbs as our um Vice Mayor.

4:10

Vice Mayor, thank you.

4:12

Vice Mayor, yeah, going forward.

4:15

That is second by Charlie Bell.

4:17

I second that motion.

4:27

So I have a congratulations, you're in.

4:49

Thank you.

4:50

Thank you.

4:52

Yeah, she has to change it in the map.

5:12

But if you would like the to share the vote, certainly it would be appropriate because they're not able to see it.

5:18

The motion passed, seven to zero.

5:20

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural███████████████15%
Transparency█████████████13%
Cannabis Regulation█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Public Safety████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Economic Development███3%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Payson Town Council Regular Meeting – January 8, 2025

The Town of Payson Common Council met on January 8, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The council addressed a range of items including the selection of a Vice-Mayor, a public hearing on a liquor license, acceptance of a utility easement, a water development fee payment plan for a hotel, council liaison appointments, and the process to fill the Town Manager vacancy. A highly debated proposal to appoint Charlie Seraphin as Interim Town Manager was ultimately tabled to a special meeting on January 15, 2025, following extensive public comment and council discussion.

Consent Calendar

  • No items were listed on the Consent Agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jim Muhr welcomed the new council members and expressed confidence in their future decisions.
  • Dustin Bullard, owner of the Mogollon Treatment Center, voiced concerns about the Town's Engineering Department permitting process, citing a nearly two-year delay and inconsistent inspector requirements. He urged the council to streamline business processes and support local investment.
  • Tom Dunning objected to the proposed appointment of Charlie Seraphin as Interim Town Manager, calling it a "precipitate move" and a sign of cronyism. He urged following normal hiring procedures.
  • Roy Sandovol cautioned against appointing Charlie Seraphin and suggested the council prioritize experienced board members for interim roles.
  • Bob Halenar requested that the snack bar concession buildings at Rumsey Park be remodeled and repaired before the Little League season. Vice-Mayor Tubbs noted the Rumsey Master Plan would be discussed at the February 4, 2025 Work Session.
  • Judith Hansen questioned the permitting of a BMX park at Wade and Meadow, expressing safety concerns for children. Staff offered to connect her with appropriate officials.
  • Isaac Blake raised concerns about council members' political and financial relationships with the Transparent Payson PAC and the Mogollon Action Committee, citing potential conflicts of interest. Mayor Otto stated he contributed to the PAC but resigned in November. Council Member Haws suggested placing the matter on a future agenda.
  • During the H.4 discussion, additional speakers opposed the Seraphin appointment: Donovan Christian cited favoritism; Jennifer Smith highlighted the qualifications of Acting Town Manager Sheila DeSchaaf; Scott Greenhalgh urged keeping the current manager while starting recruitment; and Isaac Blake questioned the need to replace the current acting manager and referenced a prior legal case involving Seraphin in St. Augustine.
  • Doug Ardt, Team Lead for the Gila County Elections Integrity Team, spoke via Zoom endorsing Charlie Seraphin, stating that change had been mandated by the voters.

Discussion Items

  • Selection of Vice-Mayor (Agenda item prior to A): Council Member Ferris nominated Council Member Susan "Suzy" Tubbs as Vice-Mayor; seconded by Council Member Bell. Approved 7-0.
  • Town Manager's Report (C.1): Acting Town Manager Sheila DeSchaaf reported on street department crack sealing, library January events, water treatment statistics (1,289 acre-feet or 420 million gallons of surface water treated from May 10 to December 9, 2024), and a delayed hockey clinic at the ice rink now scheduled for January 18, funded by two anonymous donations for 24 youth.
  • Public Hearing E.1 – Liquor License Application: Town Clerk Tracie Bailey presented a Series 6 bar liquor license application from Kyle Delly, agent for County Liquors, for 703 W. Main Street (Duza’s Restaurant). Delly stated the license would be placed in inactive status until a permanent location is found. Public comment from Laura (Zoom) questioned the address. Council Member Ferris requested future staff reports explain liquor license series. Motion to approve passed 7-0.
  • Resolution F.1 – Utility Easement: Water Department Director Tanner Henry presented Resolution No. 3429 accepting a 16-foot-wide public utility easement from Church of the Nations (CFTN Payson) for access to a water main. No money exchanged. Motion to approve passed 7-0. Acting Manager DeSchaaf confirmed future similar items could be placed on the Consent Agenda, with council consensus.
  • H.1 – Water Development Fee Payment Plan for Home2Suites: Tanner Henry requested approval of a 120-month payment plan for $164,700.87 in water development fees (48.57 Equivalent Dwelling Units). The hotel is a 94-room development. Discussion included interest rates (none charged historically) and risk mitigation. Motion to approve passed 7-0.
  • H.2 – Council Liaison Appointments: Town Clerk Bailey presented a PowerPoint on appointments to boards and commissions. The mayor and council members volunteered for liaison roles with alternates:
    • Airport Commission: Mayor Otto (alternate Council Member Bell)
    • Board of Adjustments: Vice-Mayor Tubbs (alternate Council Member Nossek)
    • Building Advisory Board: Vice-Mayor Tubbs (alternate Mayor Otto)
    • Historic Preservation and Conservation Commission: Council Member Bell (alternate Council Member Haws)
    • Parks and Recreation Commission: Council Member Haws (alternate Council Member Flaherty)
    • Planning and Zoning Commission: Council Member Ferris (alternate Vice-Mayor Tubbs)
    • Economic Development Advisory Consortium (EDAC): Mayor Otto (alternate Council Member Bell)
    • Central Arizona Governments (CAG): Mayor Otto (alternate Council Member Ferris)
    • Public Safety Personnel Retirement Board: Mayor Otto
    • Payson Area Advisory Youth Council (PAAYC): Vice-Mayor Tubbs (alternate Council Member Nossek)
    • Chamber of Commerce: Council Member Haws (alternate Council Member Flaherty)
  • H.3 – Process to Fill Town Manager Vacancy: Human Resources Director Lynne O’Donnell reviewed the 2019 recruitment process, comparing in-house vs. professional firm approaches. Council discussion favored tabling until after H.4 and H.5. Motion to table passed 7-0.
  • H.4 – Appointment of Charlie Seraphin as Interim Town Manager: After public comments, Council Member Flaherty read a statement expressing concerns about transparency and recounting a Cherokee rattlesnake story. Council Member Haws requested discussion in executive session. Motion to recess to executive session for H.4 and H.5 passed 7-0. The council reconvened at approximately 8:46 p.m.
  • H.5 – Executive Session for Litigation: The council received legal advice on pending litigation (case numbers S-0400-CV-202400271, S-0400-CV-2023-00118, S0400CV202200198, and Boulder Creek HOA litigation).

Key Outcomes

  • Vice-Mayor: Suzy Tubbs elected 7-0.
  • Liquor License (Series 6): Approved 7-0; recommendation to state.
  • Utility Easement (Resolution 3429): Approved 7-0.
  • Water Development Fee Payment Plan (Home2Suites): Approved 7-0 for 10 years, no interest.
  • Council Liaison Appointments: Finalized as listed above.
  • H.3 and H.4: Tabled to a special meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Motion passed 7-0.
  • Executive Session: Held for legal advice on litigation; no action taken publicly.
  • Adjournment: 8:49 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Common council to order. Time for the invocation. Roll call. I'm sorry. Invocation. You were right. Jim, you messed up. Read your meeting, Jim. Bad coaching. Okay, if that's the first mistake you make all year, we're good. Is Laurie Thompson present? Yes. So I guess we're understanding. Thank you, Council members of the staff for everything. On behalf of New Beginnings, I just want to say as we go into 2025, we just recently celebrated a uh Christmas event at New Beginnings. And we want to thank the community for all their donations of toys. Culver's was very uh nice and did a giving tree. We were able to help 53 families. Um a hundred and thirty-seven children received gifts and got to do Christmas pictures, and we served over 200 people on our Christmas event. So we want to thank the community for that. Shall we pray? Dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the many blessings that you have given us living here in Payson. Thank you for the people in our community, that we can be such a great great place to live. We just ask tonight that you be with our first responders, um, especially those on the Horton Fire, that you just protect them and give them strength. We also ask you to be with those families in California and those firefighters as they fight those those fires and keep them safe. As we enter 2025, dear father, we just thank you for our council members. We thank you for all of them who dedicate themselves and give up their time. We ask you to be with them. We ask you to give them wisdom, a spirit of cooperation, and a spirit of transparency. We also thank you for our dedicated town employees as we go through this time of change. May they also have wisdom and cooperation. And as we move forward, we just want everyone to work together for what's best for Payson. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Well, can you lead us in the pledge of police? I pledge to the lie of the United States of America. Now we have a roll call. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. Our next item is discussion and possible action concerning selection of a vice mayor. No, other button. I can't find on the screen, Mr. Ferris. Oh that's we're used to those. Mr. Ferris. Yeah, I make a motion to uh nominate Susie Tubbs as our um Vice Mayor. Vice Mayor, thank you.

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