Ordinance proposed to provide pension to former Alexander mayors

Aldermen for the City of Alexander are being asked to consider an ordinance that will provide a pension to all former mayors who held the position at least 16 years. The ordinance, if approved, would establish a legal foundation for a pension currently being received by former Mayor Shirley Johnson.

The ordinance is expected to be discussed at the next regular public meeting of the Alexander City Council. The meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, 6 PM, September 15, 2014 in city hall.

If passed the ordinance will, "provide a retirement benefit to any former mayor who has retired and meets the qualifications set forth in Ark. Code Ann. § 24-12-124."

Arkansas law allows, "A person who has served as mayor of a city of the second class for at least twenty (20) years may retire at any age, and a person who has served as a mayor of a city of the second class for at least sixteen (16) years may retire upon reaching sixty-five (65) years of age."

The proposed ordinance also sets the amount of payment as, "equal to one-half of the former mayor's salary" beginning one month after "the effective date of his or her retirement."

This new ordinance comes after a failed attempt last month to end pension payments to Johnson by some aldermen who feel she doesn't deserve a pension. The first step in ending the pension is to make changes to the employee handbook.

At its August meeting the council failed to pass an ordinance removing language in the employee handbook that provides benefits to both employees and elected officials. The vote was four to four with alderman Lonny Chapman as the only present "No" vote. Aldermen Samuel Gregory and Ceola Bailey had left and were counted as "No" votes. Brad Scott's vacant seat made the fourth "No" vote. Voting "Yes" were Andrea Bearden, Juanita Wilson, Farren Wadley and Faye McKeon.

The proposed ordinance from the August meeting removes any reference to an "elected official" being a city employee. It also deletes both the "Eligibility" and "Retirement" sub-headings from page 29, which provides a pension to anyone working for the city 12 years or more.

Johnson first attempted to use this section of the employee handbook to collect a pension after losing re-election in 2010. Council members at the time were told by an attorney from the Arkansas Municipal League that elected officials are not considered employees of a city or county, so her pension request was denied.

After some resignations and appointments to the council Johnson was eventually granted her current pension of $800 under a motion passed in 2012. Current aldermen Farren Wadley and Samuel Gregory are the only remaining members of the 2012 council.

If this new ordinance is passed it will increase Johnson's pension to $840 per month. That's half of her last monthly salary as mayor.

No resumes received for vacant alderman position

Apparently no one submitted a resume for the vacant Ward-2 Position-1 seat on the Alexander City Council, including three Ward-2 residents whose names will appear on the November ballot. The position was declared vacant in August by council members after the resignation of Alderman Brad Scott, which became effective June 16.

Aldermen have the option of appointing anyone, including one of the three candidates. Ward-2 residents Stephanie Beck and Kenneth D. Miller have filed election petitions for the Ward-2 Position-1 seat. Andy Mullins is running for the Ward-2 Position-2 spot currently held by Juanita Wilson.

Beck, a paraprofessional at the Bryant School District, lost to Scott for the same position in 2012. Miller owned and operated a computer sales and service business but is now retired. Mullins was seeking re-election in 2012 but was defeated by Wilson.