Wadley council takes away mayor’s appointing powers

After tackling the agenda in a businesslike fashion at its March 18 regular meeting the Wadley City Council returned on Thursday to deal with one issue — stripping Mayor Bruce Albright of all hiring and firing powers.

The council voted 5 to 1 for the action, with the mayor the only dissenting vote.

Town Attorney Greg Varner pointed out during Tuesday night’s regular meeting since this was not unanimous consent — the mayor cast a dissenting vote — and the resolution would have to be approved at a subsequent meeting when only a majority would be required for passage.

Councilwoman Toni Gay said two council members were going to call a special called meeting for Thursday night to pass Resolution No. 208-3-2, which is what occurred. The ordinance states the town council will reserve and reclaim all appointing and removal powers to itself.

Everyone acted with civility at the Tuesday meeting although there was a crackling undercurrent when questions were asked.

The huge bone of contention — who has appointing powers, Mayor Bruce Albright or council members — was dispatched with the first reading of the resolution. Those powers were removed in January of 2001 by another council, but that action has been in dispute with Albright claiming it was not legally passed.

Councilman Michael James said he was going to vote yes but he wanted it known he thinks Albright is a good mayor; that he just wanted this issue resolved. He was referring to the council being called into circuit court over dueling police chief appointments. The council has also had concerns about other matters, alleging they are not being informed about town business.

Another successfully passed resolution declared null and void the mayor’s March 7 letter of appointment of a police chief and removal of the police commissioner designation from Councilwoman Catherine Stringfellow. The resolution reiterated that the council’s Feb. 19 appointment of Timothy “Pee-Wee” Terry as police chief stands.

It also said all municipal officials and employees are informed to disregard the mayor’s letters of March 7 and March 12, which included another police chief appointment.

On an issue involving the town’s post office box, James said he was not saying the mayor’s mail was opened or not opened but he thought the collection of the mail should be by Town Clerk Marsha Poe. He said he wanted the key to go back to her — that he trusts her.

“You trust her more than me to open the mail?” Albright asked. James said he did not say that; he just believes the mail should go to city hall.

The mail now goes to Albright’s Corner Express where the mayor removes his mail and the rest is then taken to the town hall.

Everyone but Albright voted for the measure, as well as Gay’s motion that the postmaster be notified that no one but the town clerk or her assistant be allowed retrieve the mail.

Albright has complained about his mail being opened, but Poe has said no one was opening his mail.

Stringfellow’s motion that all town expenditures be approved, with the exception of payroll, prior to purchase was ultimately approved. But the mayor, who oversees utilities and emergency situations, said he has to retain the right to buy parts that involved the health and safety of the citizens. Varner said the mayor was correct.

Stringfellow said it was not her intention to stop that.

Albright seemed surprised the council is not getting financial information. James said he trusted the mayor and his expenditures. Gay said they needed to look at expenditures and see what they are paying.

Poe said outside of council meetings council members do not have any more rights than any other citizens to financial information. Gay said they want to see the bills and monitor purchases and expenditures. That motion was approved.

The council also approved requiring that all checks are signed by the mayor and clerk, or the mayor pro-tem. Gay said the signatures should be provided to the bank.

Stringfellow’s motion was approved by all but the mayor that all employees keep a log of check-in and check-out times and what they did during the day.

Albright said only police department employees clock in and out on a time clock and everybody needs to do it the same way. He asked for forms to document when employees arrive at work, etc., which he was assured he would get.

Gay said city hall and the police department are not secure, and people can hear each other through the thin wall while privacy is sometimes needed.

Albright suggested moving back to the old Wadley Health Clinic building behind city hall, in which they have invested a lot of money but are not using. He also said file cabinets are needed. They approved buying fire-proof file cabinets that will lock.

They agreed to look at the cost of moving city hall back to the other building but Gay said she liked the visibility of the police department where it is. The Senior Citizens program is also in the building, adjacent to the town clerk’s office.

They agreed to table the proposed move until they obtain more information.

The disputed ordinance that removed the mayor’s hiring and firing powers led to conflicting police chief appointments by the mayor versus those made by the council. While trying to deal with Wadley’s police chief situation meetings were called or held that the mayor said were intended to exclude him.

As a result, the mayor’s wife filed a request for a temporary restraining order that stopped a planned meeting to which everyone came except the mayor. After a court hearing Monday on some of her questions, Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Steve Perryman released them from the TRO with the understanding everyone comply with Alabama’s Open Meetings Act.

A hearing on other matters questioned by Tara Albright is expected to be heard in May.

The council set a public participation meeting for Thursday, March 27, at 5 p.m. to gain citizens’ input on what should be done with a water grant if it is approved.

The council agreed to proceed with efforts to obtain a much-needed water grant. Susan Monroe with Roth McHugh & Associates LLC, a business consulting firm based in Montgomery, and Ronnie Windham, of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, an engineering firm, also based in Montgomery, made a presentation and answered questions about replacement of a water tower to improve water flow and solve other problems with water.

Gay said she was told the town would have to move quickly to meet all the requirements prior to the April 15 deadline.

The council agreed to replace its totaled dump truck, which cost $9,525. It had a $500 deductible. Albright said he had found a 1989 dump truck in good condition, that belonged to James Lashley, now deceased. It is a good truck and will cost $6,500, he said. It was just like the one they had and city employee Larry Wilkes had checked it out. It has new tires, Albright said. Councilman Michael James suggested the council have a mechanic check it out and if there are no problems to buy it. The vote was unanimous except for Councilwoman Kathryn Moore, who did not vote for it.