Big Water council names an independent investigator for employee complaints after a 2 hour closed session
October 7, 2026, 1:00 p.m. · 60 N Aaron Burr, Big Water
At a special meeting on Oct. 7 the Big Water Town Council heard residents on employee complaints and town accountability, then met in closed session for personnel issues from 1:30 to 3:43 p.m. Back in open session it unanimously rescinded its Oct. 1 appointment of two council members to look into the complaints, appointed them instead to an advisory committee that gives non-binding recommendations on community topics, and approved Roger Carter of Five Counties as the independent investigator.
From the approved minutes. Updated November 3, 2026.
In brief
4 items came up for a decision or discussion: 3 approved and 1 discussed.
This write-up links 1 source document.
5 members were present.
The next one was on October 28, 2026: Big Water council agenda: $190,476 federal firefighter grant, picnic pavilion funds and a deputy fire chief pay scale
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 4 · Other
Citizen comments on employee complaints and town accountability
Discussed
Residents asked how the council is handling employee complaints and what role council members and an independent investigator have, and called for transparency and consistent application of policies. Council members said they could not discuss closed-session matters, that no investigator had been hired as of that date, and that policy work was underway. Several residents also spoke in support of town staff. Comments ran 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Item 6a · Appointment
Rescind the Oct. 1 appointment of two council members to look into employee complaints
Approved · 5-0
Council Member Lassen moved to rescind the Oct. 1 action because its wording was not accurate.
Item 6b · Appointment
Advisory committee of Council Members Lassen and Gangola
Approved · 5-0
After a closed session on personnel issues, the council re-appointed the two members to an advisory committee whose scope is to research specific community topics and give non-binding recommendations, feedback and citizens' perspective to the elected council.
Item 6c · Appointment
Independent investigator for employee complaints
Approved · 5-0
The council approved Roger Carter, a local administrative advisor with Five Counties, as the independent investigator.
What residents said
About ten residents spoke, mostly on employee complaints and accountability.