VORP Thrift Store

VORP Thrift Store
Click the photo to visit the VORP Store on Facebook.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Crossville council approves dismissal of interim manager Steve Hill and appoints IT director Lee Lawson

Action in a special called meeting changed the person holding interim city manager by a majority vote of the Crossville city council Tuesday.

The special meeting was called by Mayor James Mayberry on Saturday to consider the dismissal of interim city manager Steve Hill. Council member Pam Harris was not present for the meeting.

Mayor Mayberry opened the meeting commenting, “I hope that the present council members consider the citizens and the employees of Crossville in the importance of this meeting's outcomes.” Mayberry then moved, “Due to pending litigation, revelations of grievances and the recent personnel board meeting and insecurity among employees that it is in the best interest of the city to terminate Mr. Hill at the close of business today.” He continued, “I don't feel that we have to start discussion at day one of Mr. Hill's management employment and controversy, but we can if we need to. Details of employee conflicts at Parks and Rec, conflicts and lawsuits involved with our police chief and potential future lawsuits should be familiar to all the council members. My motion stand to potential end these conflicts today.”

Council member Scot Shanks supported Mayberry's motion.

Council and interim manager Steve Hill listen as 
HR director Leah Crockett answers questions. 

Council member J. H. Graham asked if there was a report from the personnel board concerning the complaint heard the previous week. The finding of the personnel board was discussed and the action by the board to follow the recommendation of the recommendations of the Municipal Technical Advisory Board (MTAS) that there were actions that were grievances but the time to file a complaint had expired. The board further recommended that there be better communication between the city manager and the department heads.

Councilman Danny Wyatt asked city attorney Will Ridley if the council could hold pending litigation against an individual?

Ridley answered, “The decision to hire of fire a city manager was solely a political decision. However you come to that decision is at your determination. It can be made for any reason.

Wyatt continued that he needed some clarification. “I don't understand the knee jerk reaction here in the fourth quarter at the two minute warning? We're doing interviews tonight.

Mayberry responded to Wyatt, “I believe the last time a city manager was relieved of his duties, your comments on that one were you just lost faith in his management abilities. I have lost faith in Mr. Hill's management abilities.”

Councilman Shanks pointed out that the personnel board was just a small part of the reason for the action.

Mayberry added that the latest unacceptable act of consorting with other employees and disrespecting and intimidation of department heads I feel is unacceptable and I don't think we need anybody's ruling on that because we've seen the evidence in black and white.

Shanks commented, “I like Steve. I've known him for a long time, but to keep Steve as city manaer is not a business decision, that's a personal decision.” He added that even though he hopes to have a manager hired soon, with candidates dropping out it could be three or four months before it could be finalized. “I just feel we're putting Crossville at risk if we keep Steve in as city manager,” Shanks concluded.

Wyatt voiced that he had not heard some firm evidence of that fact and added that he would like to hear some to prove what Hill did wrong.

Mayberry answered that as far as they know he's not broken any laws.

Graham also commented that Hill was a close personal friend but he would make the decision based on education and professionalism. He pointed out that even though Hill had applied for the full time city manager position, he was not selected for the interview process. Graham then made a motion to call for the question. That motion was approved.

On the dismissal of Hill, Wyatt voted no while Mayberry and Shanks voted yes. Graham passed on the first call and then entered a yes vote. The motion was approved.

Council then moved to a discussion of appointing a new interim manager but that created more issues as there was not an item on the agenda but it was listed in the agenda text on the discussion of dismissing Hill.

Mayberry explained that he had given the matter a lot of thought and he felt a good person who was involved in many city activities and was in a non political, neutral position was IT department head Lee Lawson.

Graham said that he was not prepared to discuss the replacement of the interim city manager and did not think that subject was part of the agenda.

Mayberry said that the replacement was germane to the agenda item and the council could make an exception under the standing rules with a 2/3 vote of council. Mayberry then moved to appoint Lawson until the permanent city manager can be hired. Shanks supported the motion.

Council moved forward to suspend the standing rules and the motion was approved with Mayberry, Graham and Shanks approving and Wyatt opposed.

The motion for appointing Lawson returned to the floor and was approved again by a three to one vote with Wyatt opposed.

Mayor James Mayberry, right, swears in Lee Lawson 
as Interim city manager.

Following the meeting adjournment, Lawson was sworn in to begin the position as of January 18, 2017.

Left to right, following the action to appoint Lee Lawson as interim city manager, city clerk Sally Oglesby, Lawson and Mayor James Mayberry discuss city business. 

No comments:

Post a Comment