Alexander meeting short but lively

Monday night's meeting of the Alexander City Council was short by comparison to recent meetings, lasting only an hour, but it wasn't without its usual lively debate. There was also an accusation by Mayor Michelle Hobbs that aldermen had coordinated a motion and second to remove City Attorney Carla Miller.

Shortly after April's monthly meeting Miller sent an E-mail to the mayor and Alexander aldermen submitting her resignation as city attorney, "to become effective no later than July 1, 2014." The letter does not give a reason for the sudden resignation.

After role call at Monday night's meeting Alderman Juanita Wilson made a motion to accept Miller's resignation, "Effective immediately." The motion was seconded by Alderman Andrea Bearden.

Wilson cited the thousands of dollars spent on legal fees since hiring Miller and said the city needed to reduce costs as soon as possible.

According to an invoice, provided to the aldermen monthly, Miller is billing the City $4,973.30 for services rendered between March 26 and April 25.

Alderman Ceola Bailey said the City should find a new attorney before replacing Miller.

During the discussion Mayor Hobbs accused aldermen of having, "Three-way phone" conversations and meetings at their homes discussing city business. If true this would be a violation of state laws, which control how and when meetings of governmental bodies and elected officials may be held.

Bearden told the Mayor, "You're grasping at straws."

The motion passed six to two with aldermen Bearden, Wilson, Farren Wadley, Samuel Gregory, Faye McKeon, and Lonny Chapman voting "Yes." Alderman Ceola Bailey voted "No." Alderman Brad Scott was absent and is counted as a "No" vote.

Mayor Hobbs is expected to veto the measure. It will require a minimum six to two vote to override.

Meeting postponed

A motion was then made by Bearden and seconded by Wilson to postpone the meeting until June 2. Bearden said there was no need to have this meeting since there's nothing to discuss.

Bearden pointed out the minutes from the two previous regular meetings were given to the council at the start of the meeting, leaving aldermen no time to proofread them. Also, several items are missing from the agenda including two ordinances presented at the April meeting to allow aldermen one month to review them, the ordinance and resolution E-mailed to aldermen by City Attorney Carla Miller since the last meeting, and the Mayor failed to advertise for construction bids to repair the driveway in front of the fire house on South Alexander Road and to have several streets repaired.

The two ordinances presented at the April meeting by Bearden and Wilson propose to give the city council the authority to hire and fire city employees who are not department heads and form a committee to rewrite the city's personnel manual. The E-mail sent by Miller included a resolution establishing a reimbursement policy for employees who attend training classes paid for by the city and an ordinance allowing the streets in the St. Joseph's Glen subdivision to be maintained by the city.

The motion to postpone the meeting passed five to three with aldermen Bearden, Wilson, Farren Wadley, Faye McKeon, and Lonny Chapman voting "Yes." Aldermen Ceola Bailey and Samuel Gregory voted "No." Alderman Brad Scott was absent and is counted as a "No" vote.

A motion to adjourn the meeting also passed with Ceola Bailey as the lone "No" vote.