Greeley City Council selects Johnny Olson to chair meeting during mayor’s absence

The Greeley City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Ward III Council Member Johnny Olson as temporary chair of the meeting after both Mayor Dale Hall and Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald were absent because of illness. The procedural vote came before council approved its published agenda. Olson was the only nominee, and the motion passed 5-0.

Ward I Council Member Craig Huddleston opened the discussion by telling colleagues that the city faced “an unusual situation” with both presiding officers unexpectedly out. He said council needed to choose a member to run the evening’s meeting and nominated Olson to serve as presiding officer.

After no other nominations were offered, Ward II Council Member Deb DeBoutez said council still needed to vote on the motion. Following a voice vote, DeBoutez announced that the motion carried 5-0. Olson then took over the dais, joking, “Okay, I guess that’s a pass off to me,” before moving on to agenda approval.

The temporary-chair selection was not listed as a separate item on the published agenda for the regular meeting. Council took up the unscheduled procedural action at the outset so it could proceed with the rest of the meeting under a presiding officer.