Attempt to veto Alexander mayor's choice for police chief fails

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Jackson has been replaced by former Police Chief of Pangburn, Arkansas John Fenton.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.