FAIRMONT– On Monday the Fairmont City Council held a special meeting and the whole purpose, as the meeting was posted, was “to hold discussion on and with Pat Oman for a City Administrator position.” However, Oman was not present at Monday’s meeting.

As Mayor Lee Baarts opened the meeting, he said that the council had called for the special meeting on its regular meeting on Oct. 13. At that time it had passed on a 3-2 vote.

Baarts said that Oman was notified about the meeting and its purpose.

“Because Mr. Oman has not appeared at this meeting, and he has indicated to council and staff that he wishes to continue to revoke his withdrawal of candidacy for the city administrator of Fairmont, I would propose that we consider his withdrawal from candidacy final and we move to adjourn the meeting because there is no longer purpose for this special meeting,” Baarts said.

Oman, who is the city’s current Community Development Director, had been one of three final city administrator candidates, However, he, along with the other two, ultimately withdrew his application from being considered on Oct. 1.

Then on Oct. 6, Oman submitted his resignation to the city, indicating that his final day would be on Nov. 12.

After Baarts gave his recommendation on Monday Council Member Wayne Hasek made a motion to adjourn, which Council Member Jay Maynard seconded.

Council Member Randy Lubenow asked about discussion, to which Baarts responded to by saying it depends what was going to be said as the topic needed to center on what the special meeting was posted for.

“I just think that now that we don’t have plan A, we don’t have plan B, so–,” Lubenow said before he was cut off by Baarts.

“This meeting was about Pat Oman and if he’s going to reapply. That’s it,” Baarts said.

“Why exactly would Pat Oman want to work here?” Lubenow asked.

Baarts said there was a motion and a second to adjourn. Council Member Britney Kawecki said that the topic was pertinent, to which Baarts said it was not.

“The motion to adjourn is not debatable,” said Maynard.

Baarts said the meeting was adjourned and called for a roll call vote. Council Members Hasek, Maynard and James Kotewa voted yes and Lubenow voted no. Kawecki said she did not get to bring up her discussion item.

“It doesn’t matter. This isn’t America anymore; it’s Fairmont,” Lubenow said.

Kawecki said, “we all know that Councilor Kotewa sent a text message this morning… and that is why this meeting got cancelled.”

Baarts began loudly asking for microphones to be turned off while Kawecki was speaking and the council continued to make comments, along with some community members that were in attendance, some of which threw remarks at councilors including “grow up” and “you’re such a joke.”

The meeting was adjourned after two minutes.

The council will meet next for its regular city council meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27. The agenda has not yet been posted so it remains to be seen if the council will discuss the next steps in hiring a city administrator. The city has been without a city administrator since November of last year.