St. Matthews City Council
Caucus Meeting
September 30, 2025 5:00 p.m.
St. Matthews City Hall 3rd Floor
Present:
Rick Tonini, Mayor
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
Bernie Bowling, Councilmember
Frank Flynn, Councilmember
Nate Hernandez, Councilmember
Tim Holland, Councilmember
Sarah Landes, Councilmember
Mary Jo Nay, Councilmember
Amy Olson, Councilmember
Jackie Vannetti, Councilmember
John Singler, City Attorney
Mayor Tonini called the caucus meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. This meeting was for discussion purposes only. No decisions were made.
The Mayor and Mr. Singler explained Industrial Revenue Bonds.
The Mayor relayed information from his attendance at the KLC conference. He explained the LARP program and indicated Kenan was applying for funds for next year’s resurfacing of streets.
The Mayor asked the council to consider what to do with the Opioid Settlement money. Ideas included reimbursement for the Victim’s Advocate Specialist salary (partial) and reimbursement for the fire department over-dose runs.
Councilmember Olson indicated a resident for Windsong would attend a council meeting.
Mr. Singler gave the council excerpts from the KLC public official manual concerning committees. The council has no operational control and cannot do executive functions of the position of mayor. Committees can be created by municipal order, executive order, or ordinance. They should contain the organizational structure of the committee. The Mayor makes all appointments to committees, but language can be added to say the council must approve those appointments. The opinion of the attorney general has consistently been that the removal of a committee member be built into the structure.
Standing committees (permanent) and ad hoc committees (particular purpose), both need structure. Structure includes the powers and duties of the committee and its members, purpose of committee, terms, and appointments. Their meetings are open to the public (for observation) and subject to open records requests. The meetings should be advertised within 24 hours of the meeting with the purpose and location and must have minutes taken.
The police steering committee was updated in an ordinance in 2024. No other mention of committees has been included in the codification process.
Mr. Singler will craft two ordinances pertaining to committees to present to the council at a future council meeting.
The Mayor informed the council a public works truck was involved in an accident and was totaled. There were no injuries.
Adjournment
The discussion ended and the meeting concluded at 6:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Richard Tonini, Mayor
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
