The appointment was made at a special council meeting a day after council members announced city manager Ted Graham would be on a one-month suspension.
That suspension runs through March 22.
A motion to have Jennifer Clason act as part of a team for negotiations between the city and police and firefighters unions brought a discussion between the council and city attorney Lou Ann Moudy.
Moudy said appointing a negotiating team was, "premature since we have not received any notice or request from the police union for negotiations.""Can't we set a team now so we don't have to do that later in the process?", asked Clason.
Moudy said it can be done then added, "it is not good practice to have a member of the council or city manager as part of the negotiating team."
Councilman Ronnie Duke said that has been common practice for 22 years but Moudy told it it has not been a good practice for those years.
Clason said the Oklahoma Municipal Advisory Group (OMAG) said council members can observe but not be involved in the negotiations. "That person does not talk but sits and watches."
"Obviously OMAG has advised the mayor so go with it," Moudy said.
Approval was given with Janna Dugan casting a dissenting vote.
Council members approved spending $34,489 with Wilhite Construction to build the bathroom facility at McCutcheon Park. That work is facing a tight deadline "The work has to be done in the next three weeks, a maximum of four," said Clason. The bathroom plumbing needs to be in place in order for piping and electrical panels in place. She pointed out the contractor for the splash pad would have to have it done in four weeks or else the splash pad would not be completed this year.
Original plans called for volunteer work to help in the construction. Clason pointed out a lack of volunteers and the rock shelf encountered caused a significant delay last year.
Also approved was selection of Bill Myers Engineering to survey easements and property lines on the south side of East Main along E Street.
That work is the first step toward replacing a decades-old storm water drain line. The existing corrugated pipe has collapsed and caused flooding during heavy rains. The line currently runs under the Taco Bell parking lot.
The work will look at the feasibility of running the drain line along the south side of Main then sending it south into Coal Creek.
Bill Myers said the actual work on the replacement can be done by city workers at a lesser cost than contracting it out.
Acting under the Municipal Authority, the council approved spending $50,000 to do needed repairs on sewage lift stations on State and Washington Streets.
Myers was also given approval to start the design and survey work to put in a sewer line to the 30 acres owned by HEDA.
A bid of $47,468 was accepted for purchase of two submersible pumps for the wastewater treatment plant.
