|
|
|
|
Mayor, selectmen approve Oct. 13 minutes |
|
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 |
Mayor vetoes appointment of interim police chief, street sweeper purchase
By Davida Hill-Beckum
Daily Times Leader
The Mayor and Board of Selectmen held a special meeting Tuesday night to approve the minutes of the Oct. 13 board meeting. The special meeting, which lasted approximately an hour, was held on Tuesday because a quorum was not established at the special meetinOct. 28.
The minutes had to be approved before the board can proceed with the sale of $1.9 million in city bonds.
During the meeting, Mayor Scott Ross presented the board with a letter from City Attorney Orlando Richmond, who was not present for the meeting, stating the bond issue could be resolved as early as Nov. 16, assuming Richmond can get a hearing before a chancellor.
“So, all we really need to do tonight is approve these minutes,” Ross said. “Randy, Justin, Rita and I have already reviewed them.”
The selectmen did not view the approving the minutes as something that could be done in a matter of minutes. Instead, they questioned the mayor's vetoes.
“There are a couple of items that were vetoed that we need to address,” said Ward 1 Selectman Rod Bobo. “The purchase of the street sweeper and the appointment of Interim Police Chief Bobby Lane.”
Deputy Chief Bobby Lane, who has been with the West Point Police Department since March of 1984, has acted as interim chief while the last search for a police chief was being conducted. He currently supervises the patrolmen. Lane was re-appointed as interim during an executive session Oct. 13.
Ross did not give a reason for his veto. Instead, he said the issue could be discussed at the special meeting scheduled for tomorrow night.
The street sweeper costs $81,775. It was recommended by Bill Haughton, the city's purchasing clerk, despite its failure to meet the published specifications because it did not sweep in reverse.
Following Bobo's comment. Ross insisted the board move forward with the approval.
“By approving these minutes, we are just documenting them as accurate,” Ross said, “saying these actions are what took place during the meeting.”
The vetoes did not take place during the meeting.
After Ward 5 Selectman Jasper Pittman moved to approve the minutes, Ward 2 Selectman Homer Cannon found an inaccuracy in the executive session minutes.
“The minutes record the motion to appoint Lane as being made by Pittman,” Cannon said, “however, I made that motion.”
Ross called for the vote on the approval of the minutes saying any needed amendments be made following the approval.
The vote to approve the the Oct. 13 minutes was 5-0.
Ward 3 Selectman Charles Collins moved to reappoint former mayor Kenny Dill to the Golden Triangle Landfill Board, which was immediately ruled out of order by Ross.
“Our agenda tonight only included the approval of the minutes,” Ross said.
The agenda did not reflect Collins' request to add Dill's reappointment.
“When Justin called me to schedule the meeting, I immediately called Randy Jones and asked that Dill’s appointment be added to the agenda,” Collins said “Jones assured me that he would do so.”
Although the board could not discuss Dill’s reappointment, other items not on the agenda, including the rental of a temporary bridge from Mabby Bridge and Shore Incorporated, were discussed.
According to Ross, the temporary bridge will cost the city approximately $50,000.
“We haven’t been able to find a free option,” Ross said. “but this option will allow us to reopen Main Street almost immediately and possibly keep one lane open while working on the other lane.”
Mabby requires a six-month minimum rental on their temporary bridges. The cost will be $21,000 immediately and $1500 weekly bringing the cost closer to $60,000 than $50,000.
The bridge rental and the reappointment of Dill will also be discussed at the special meeting tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.
The Mayor and Board of Selectmen are also expected to discuss the following vacant positions: police chief, purchasing clerk, city clerk, electric department superintendent and receiving clerk for the Light and Water department. Bill Haughton's resignation was effective Oct. 31. The compensation of Rita Mattix, who was named interim city clerk during the Oct. 13 board meeting, was discussed during the meeting. Cannon suggested the selectmen review her salary to insure that she is being properly compensated.
According to Pittman, the board began requesting some of these jobs be advertised a month and a half ago, but Randy Jones, city administrative officer, had not done so.
Jones was not present at the special meeting.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 November 2009 )
|
|
|
|
