Alexander council tables appointment and attendance ordinance

The Alexander City Council tabled two major items at its September 16 meeting. One was the appointing of someone to fill the vacant alderman's position in Ward-3, Position-1. The other was an ordinance requiring attendance at city council meetings.

The aldermen decided to wait another month to fill the vacancy so more resumes can be submitted. They also ordered the city attorney to make a change to the ordinance requiring attendance at city council meetings.

Ward-3 resident Andrea Bearden was the only person to submit a resume requesting to be considered for the open seat, which became available when Alderman Dan Church resigned July 18. Church was elected in 2012 defeating incumbent Harvey Howard.

Alderman Faye McKeon suggested former alderman Harvey Howard be considered even though he did not submit a resume. Earlier this year both Bearden and Howard submitted resumes when the council needed to fill the vacancy in Ward-3's Position-2 spot. It became available when Alderman Jack Shoemaker moved out of Alexander. That vacancy was filled with the appointment of Samuel Gregory.

Resumes must be received at City Hall before the next regular council meeting scheduled for October 21, 2013.

A change to the ordinance requiring attendance at "regular" and "special" council meetings by elected officials forced the vote on it to be tabled until the October meeting. Alderman McKeon suggested that an absence would be excused providing the person notifies someone at city hall before closing time on the day of the meeting. No action by the council would be required unless an alderman misses a meeting and hadn't called.

Under the original proposal anyone unable to attend had to call city hall the day of the meeting and provide the reason they cannot attend. The aldermen present at the meeting would then vote as to whether the reason is an "excused absence." Under McKeon's proposal the vote would only be necessary if the official didn't notify someone of their expected absence.

The ordinance also includes a fine of $50 after three unexcused absences "during any calendar year." The fine jumps to $100 for each unexcused absence during the same calendar year.

The question of forcing aldermen to attend meetings came about after four aldermen stopped attending council meetings after January. The move came about, in-part, when during the regular January council meeting newly appointed Mayor Michelle Hobbs announced she would "veto" any action passed that was proposed by aldermen Juanita Wilson, Dan Church, Jack Shoemaker and Lonny Chapman.

The four stopped attending meetings to keep the council from having a quorum in order to slow down the mayor. Despite that, the council held some meetings without a quorum.

In other actions:

Council members did give the Assistant Fire Chief Tim Blankenship permission to purchase a used 2000 Pierce fire truck for $350 and make any necessary repairs up to $5,000. This truck will replace a 1988 vehicle that is beyond repair.

Police Chief Horace Walters told council members he is now getting prices to purchase four new police cars instead of the original seven discussed earlier this year. There is still some question as to how the city will be able to fund the purchase.

The next regular meeting will be held Monday, October 21 at 6 PM in Alexander City Hall.