Three members of the Alexander City Council called a Special Meeting in
an attempt to veto Mayor Paul Mitchell's choice for police chief. During his
first week as mayor Mitchell informed Police Chief Derrick Jackson he would no
longer be employed by the city starting January 15 as chief of police.
Jackson has been replaced by former Police Chief of Pangburn, Arkansas John
Fenton. He was sworn-in to office by Mitchell late on the evening of January 14
and began his duties as the new police chief the next day.
The attempted veto was started by Alderman Andy Mullins. Joining him
were aldermen Lonny Chapman and Andrea Bearden. Under state law three aldermen
can decide to call a special meeting without approval from the mayor. The special
meeting was held Monday evening January 12, at City Hall.
Mullins and Chapman were silent during the discussion. Bearden,
however, did express her concerns that someone with a family was losing his job
and he wasn't promised a position as an officer.
Mitchell told council members he didn't promise Jackson a job as an
officer, leaving that decision, and the hiring of future officers, to Chief Fenton.
He did, however, ask Jackson if he would
have any problems serving under Fenton after being replaced. According to
Mitchell Jackson said he wouldn't have a problem with that.
The move to reverse Mitchell's choice for police chief failed in a four
to four vote. State law requires a two-thirds vote to reverse a mayor's
decision to hire or fire a department head. In this case six votes were needed.
Bearden made the motion to rescind the appointment and Mullins
seconded. Voting for the motion were Bearden, Mullins, Chapman, and Alderman
Louis E. Hobbs. Voting against the motion were aldermen Jeffery S. Watson,
Stephanie Beck, Dan Church, and Melissa Ratliff.
Prior to the discussion and vote on the appointment Bearden asked about
the pay rate for police chief. Mitchell said the chief will be paid $15 per
hour. According to Bearden the budget only allows $13 per hour. That may be
what's in the budget but it's not what Jackson was being paid.
In 2013 former Police Chief Horace Walters submitted his resignation
effective November 20. Jackson, who was assistant chief at the time, was
appointed interim police chief by then Mayor Michelle Hobbs. Nearly one year
later Hobbs appointed Jackson as chief.
According to Alexander financial statements Jackson was paid $1,500.00
every two weeks during November and December, 2014 and part of January 2015. Records
indicate as interim chief he was working 85 hours every two weeks at $12.50 per
hour, not including overtime. If he maintained the 85 hours after being
appointed chief, the $1,500.00 is equal to approximately $17.65 per hour.
Fenton grew up in the area formerly known as Woodland Hills, which is
now part of the City of Alexander. His mother still lives in Alexander.
Check signing resolution revisited
Also on the agenda for the Special Meeting was the resolution approved
during an Emergency Meeting held Tuesday evening January 6. The purpose of the
resolution was to establish who will be signing checks for the city. The motion
passed by the council listed Mayor Paul Mitchell, aldermen Andrea Bearden and
Jeffery Watson and, in an emergency, Bookkeeper Jo An Churchill.
The resolution also authorizes the city treasurer to sign checks. However,
because that position is vacant it only mentions the position of
"Treasurer" without naming an individual.
The resolution was typed by Alderwoman Bearden who left five blank
lines so the names of those who would be allowed to sign checks can be
handwritten on those lines. The night of the January 6 meeting Recorder Sharon
Bankhead wrote the names on four of the five lines, handed the resolution to
Mitchell, then everyone left.
According to Churchill the next day Mitchell tossed the resolution on
her desk and that's when she noticed Bankhead wrote Alderman Andy Mullins's
name on one of the lines instead of hers. Rather than trying to change it by
hand she retyped the resolution to make that correction along with two other
errors; one spelling and one grammar.
Because the resolution was retyped and the format was different than
the original, Bearden asked if the council needed to vote on the resolution
again. City Attorney Kevin Lemley said you shouldn't retype anything once it's
been voted on but because the correction was made to match the motion he didn't
see any reason to take a second vote.
The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held
Monday, January 26. The meeting will be held at 6 pm in City Hall. The public
is invited to attend.
Nice editorial, as usual.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I'd like to make an opinion statement on is:
people who call others liars.
It is a hateful thing to do to begin with, and should be "one-on-one" if you think you've been lied to; as opposed to making your case in the form of gossip.
As for the mayor lying to one individual – he doesn’t owe an explanation or description of his efforts to anyone but the people; and that is done when he reports to them. During the process, asking personal questions is rude and uncalled for. When he makes a report, feel free to check for truth and accuracy, it’s on the record at that time. Before then its just work; many things go on behind the scene in every ones job, stopping to answer menial questions and declaring it a lie when you hear an answer is intentionally destructive.
That a job is done and done well is the point, the behind the scenes drudgery and labor are no one else’s business.
Decision making is a process. That process can run smoothly or be hindered with constant interruption and badgering. ALL elected officials should be free to do their jobs with out that kind of interference, The active point here is THEIR JOB. We only need one mayor; he doesn’t have 8 bosses, he has 2901 of them. If you are one of those 2901 please recognize this is a new administration, determined to lift Alexander to a new level. Feel free to communicate, make suggestions, offer advice, but before the first month is done, let’s hold the governing body up, not tramp them down.
I'm impressed Mr. Mayor!!
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