3 ordinances get first reading

With only four members of the Alexander City Council able to attend the Monday, May 20 meeting council members were limited as to what they could do. With Mayor Paul Mitchell counting as the fifth member, giving the council a quorum, the only agenda items accomplished were the approval of the minutes from the April meeting and the first public reading of three ordinances.

Under normal circumstances, after a first reading, the required second and third readings are suspended making way for voting on the ordinance. Unfortunately, suspending the second and third readings requires a two-thirds vote of the council. In this case six members must vote for suspension of the additional readings.

The ordinances that had their first reading were the City of Alexander Subdivision Rules and Regulations, which establishes criteria and a process for developing land within the city. The second is a new set of zoning regulations to replace the current regulations established in 1982. The third authorizes the electronic transfer of funds.

While Mayor Paul Mitchell was able to be counted as the fifth member needed to make a quorum, he’s not allowed to vote on some issues. Besides not being allowed to vote on items that require a two-thirds vote, a mayor also can not vote on an appointment to the city council. In Alexander’s case that requires a minimum of five votes. The expected appointment of Lonny Chapman to the vacant Ward-4, Seat-1 position was suspended until the June meeting. The position became vacant in February when Council Member Melissa Ratliff resigned to work full time at city hall.

Present at the meeting were Joe Pollard (Ward-1), Joy Gray (Ward-2), Harold Timmerman (Ward-3), and Dan Church 
(Ward-3). Absent were Elizabeth Bland (Ward-1), Juanita Wilson (Ward-2) and Jeffery Watson (Ward-4).

The next meeting of the Alexander city council is June 17. The meeting is at 6 PM and is held in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.