An Open Letter To The Citizens Of Jellico
The Tennessee Attorney General (AG) has issued an opinion that rightly or wrongly, the twenty-four hours notice of the special call meeting did meet the requirements under the new city charter.
But the AG left open the central question as to whether adequate public notice was given stating that, "Whether 'adequate public notice' of the meeting was given as required by the Open Meeting Act would depend upon all the facts and circumstances, a definitive determination of which can only be provided by a court of competent jurisdiction."
However the statement also appeared to somewhat answer that question by listing some of the things that can be done to insure adequate public notice - none which appear to have been done.
It was pointed out during our meeting last Thursday night that I was in error when I stated that meetings could be called on short notice (24 hours) only in cases of emergency. But I stand by my original contention that we do not need to be having meetings called that our people can not possibly know about and have them held in virtual secrecy. Calling special meetings at 9:45 PM on Sundday night in the absence of some major catastrophe is just not the way to do things. That kind of politics went out of style at least fifty years ago. And as one gentleman pointed out following the meeting, if the charter allows meetings on such short notice, then the charter is wrong and not the mayor.
I have been asked to publish the details of the city administrator's financial contract with the city of Jellico. (Someone has already placed them on the Internet).
Mr. David Cooper is to be paid $29,500.00 yearly for thirty (30) hours a week (1500 hours yearly) with two (2) weeks paid vacation for the next two (2) years. No prior years of service are required to qualify for two weeks paid vacation as are required of other employees (five years). He will receive all other city employee benefits but does not qualify for retirement benefits since he is only a part time employee. He will receive $500.00 yearly for travel expenses that is not available to any other elected official or employee of the city. He can request additional funds for that purpose.
There is also a "buyout" requirement whereby the city will be required to pay $7,375.00 if Mr. Cooper's employment is terminated by the city of Jellico without cause.
The requiremenet that he live in the city of Jellico was waived by the four councilmen during the controversial "special call" meeting as stated on the Internet and it is my understanding that he will continue to live in Lafollette.
I have also been asked why I signed Mr. Cooper's contract after publicly stating my belief that the special call meeting had been illegally called and conducted.
I signed the contract in the presence of witnesses simply to insure that I could not be charged with interfering with Mr. Cooper in the performance of his duties. I assured him at that time that I would work and cooperate with him to the fullest extent possible for the betterment of our town as long as he is in the position. And I intend to do so!!! But prior to signing, I also made a prepared statement pointing out the fact that I did believe that the meeting that hired him had been called and conducted in an improper manner.
Our town has experienced successes and we have suffered set backs during my two years in the mayor's office. But the biggest loss to date came with the announced resignation of Betty Hurst from the office of city recorder. To say that she will be greatly misssed is the understatement of the year.
Betty and I were not that well acquainted and apparently not even of the same political persuasion when I assumed office two years ago. But we immediately sat down together, discussed the needs of our town and agreed to cooperate fully to bring about some badly needed improvements including renovating and revitalizing the downtown and securing job opportunities for our citizens.
And we have done just that!!! We have not engaged in politics nor personalities and every action taken has been with the best interests of our town in mind. I cannot recall a single disagreement between the two of us during those two years.
It took me only a few days to realize that Betty's experience and knowledge were very valuable resources for Jellico. She has advised me many times of situations, rules and regulations that have prevented my making some serious mistakes in actions that I had planned to take. Without question she has accumulated a level of knowledge about our city that is unmatched by any other person, and she is a highly intelligent individual who readily understands new ideas and concepts.
Three times a city administrator (CA) has been hired with little or no public consideration given to Betty as a possible candidate although at times during our first experience with a CA, it appeared that she was the CA rather than the other way around, considering all of the questions that she had to answer. And all those who have been hired have been granted higher salaries than she received for her many years of experience and dedication to our town-and she has no retirement benefits from the city of Jellico. I now personally oppose the position of city administator as I have continued to make clear on numerous occasions. But if one had to be hired, then Betty Hurst would have been a great choice. She lives here and pays her taxes here. (And that is in no way intended as a reflection upon Mr. Cooper who was hired with the understanding that he would not live here).
Some of those councilmen who voted to bring in an "outside" candidate have been the same ones demanding "in house" promotions. I just wonder if her gender had anything to do with the four councilmen failing to conider her. It certainly could not have been her training, experience or ability. Here's wishing Betty a great retirement but it's going to be hard for such a workaholic to go completely "cold turkey". (In my opinion that will never happen).
It never hurts to know people from all walks of life!!!
While touring the building at Oswego Industrial Park, I was shown around by Mr. Jim Page, an official with SEMACO, the firm that is currently expanding its operation in that building. The name rang a bell but we had returned to the Municipal Building before I realized that he was the same Jim Page that had played football at the University of Tennessee. He had graduated just before I went to work with the athletic department but we knew many of the same people and have many of the same memories.
Needless to say, we did later spend more than a short time discussing Tennessee football and old acquaintances of whom many are now deceased. Some of the stories that he related were hilarious while others involved many serious incidents that I had never heard before. And I was able to tell him a few that were new to him also. It was a very enjoyable experience.
(SEMACO is currently progressing far faster in the new location than it had originally planned. I was informed on May 16th that one large new order has already been received and two more are expected within the very near future. Page says that the firm had planned to use part of the building for storage and warehousing but the projected new orders will probably now require the entire building for even more jobs than could possibly have been anticipated. The firm has already started the process toward obtaining grants whereby SEMACO will be able to purchase the building for a permanent operation.)
One of my four objectives when I assumed office was to attract potential new jobs to our area. But along with the help of others, we have been so successful that it is sometimes hard for me to realize just how well we have done in achieving that goal.
The time may soon come when we will have to begin giving serious consideration to obtaining public and/or private funding to provide for more industrial space. It is a dream of mine to eventually build up the flood plain property just across the railroad tracks from city hall that includes the section recently donated to the city of Jellico and to eventually construct an industrial building there. Workers would be close to the center of town which should provide potential customers for our existing businesses and stimulate the opening of new businesses in the downtown. And there would be adequate parking since we were able to obtain the large tract of property in that same area free of charge from Norfolk Southern Railway.
Shortly after taking office I had a large sign erected on the four-lane leading into town. And the last line is proving to be a very prophetic one-"JELLICO - A COMMUNITY ON THE MOVE!"
But we still have miles to go and we must stay at the task.
This is the designated week for our second annual "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up Week" and I hope that our citizens are participating. We have the Memorial Day weeekend coming up and we need our town to present the best appearance possible for all of our visitors.
The events of the past few months have certainly dicouraged a lot of people who were so active last year. But we still need to continue to make improvements wherever we can.
A number of veterans seem to appreciate the things I write about them in this column. And I also get favorable reactions from family members of veterans as well-especially the families of deceased veterans.
Many of our families have had several members to serve this country and I am always in awe when we place the American flags at the Brown family plot in the Jellico Cemetery. No less than seven (7) flags are placed side by side. The site of those flags after they are placed never fails to affect me. And Terry Douglas reminded me that the George and Flora Douglas family had six (6) members to serve: Cleve Frances Douglas; Warren P. Douglas; Horace Maynard Douglas; Charles Edward Douglas; Joe Terry Douglas, and John K. Douglas.
I am sure that we have numerous other families that provided several veterans to the service of our country and I will be glad to run them in this column if I receive lists.
FINAL NOTE:
During the years that I served as a teacher and principal-like most teachers and principals-I always looked forward to the end of the school year and the blessed summer break. The all too short "vacation" from stress (although I usually worked during most of the summer months) never came too soon. But age and circumstances have a way of changing one's outlook on life.
Since I began working virtually full time at a "part time" job with the Whitley County School System as a substitute teacher and "fill in" principal, I have made a lot of good friends among school personnel and enjoy a great working relationship at the schools to which I have been assigned.
The absence of responsibility for discipline and extra duties as well as dealing with irate parents, boards of education, superintendents, state department of education officials, etc., makes the work so much more enjoyable. Most of my time is now spent working with "kids" and the vast majority of the students are a real pleasure to know. We study and learn together! And for the first time in my life, I can actually say that I hate to see the school year end and wish that it would continue right on through the summer months with only a short break. That is real job satisfaction.
However one extremely bright student at Whitley County High School, Jennifer Paul has turned me into a nervous wreck. She apparently is working to appear on our nation's most popular television program, "Who wants to be a Millionare?" and she has listed me as her "Life Line - Call a Friend" contact. I am greatly honored that she chose me but I am also sure that if she does appear on the show and actually ends up calling me, that I would not have the slightest clue as to the correct answer. But even if I did, I would probably freeze up and go completely blank from sheer fright. But thankfully she has agreed to forgive me and to continue to like me even after I bomb out. Now that's true friendship!!!
However after having had Jennifer in many classes, I really don't believe that she will need to call anyone. Thank goodness she is more than capable of handling the questions on her own.
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