MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
NOVEMBER 2, 2020
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tallassee Municipal Complex. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hammock and the following were recorded as present:
Mayor John Hammock
Council Members Jeremy Taunton
Sarah Hill
Damian Carr
Bill Hall
Terrel Brown
Bill Godwin
Fred Randall Hughey
John Smith was present as city attorney and City Clerk Whitney Pitchford acted as clerk for the meeting.
Council Member Hughey made a motion to add the Resolution for appointment of DPS that was discussed during the work session to the agenda as Item 1, seconded by Council Member Taunton. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 1: A Resolution for appointment of DPS was discussed. Council Member Taunton made a motion to approve the Resolution and appoint Chief Matt Higgins again, seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-657 was adopted.
Item 2: A Resolution appointing the Mayor Pro-Temp was discussed. Council Member Hill made a motion to adopt the Resolution appointing Council Member Bill Godwin as the Mayor Pro-Temp, seconded by Council Member Brown. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote, with Council Member Godwin abstaining from voting. Resolution 2020-658 was adopted.
Item 3: An Ordinance adopting the Rules and Procedures was discussed. Council Member Taunton made a motion to keep the current Ordinance, seconded by Council Member Carr. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 4: A Resolution appointing the City Clerk was discussed. Council Member Godwin made a motion to adopt the Resolution appointing Whitney Moon Pitchford as the City Clerk, seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-659 was adopted.
Item 5: A Resolution appointing the City Attorney was discussed. Council Member Hughey made a motion to adopt the Resolution appointing John Smith as the City Attorney, seconded by Council Member Carr. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-660 was adopted.
Item 6: A Resolution appointing the City Judge was discussed. Council Member Godwin made a motion to adopt the Resolution appointing Linda Benson as the City Judge, seconded by Council Member Brown. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote, with Council Member Hughey abstaining from voting. Resolution 2020-661 was adopted.
Item 7: A Resolution appointing the Superintendent of Utilities was discussed. Council Member Godwin made a motion to adopt the Resolution appointing John Hammock as the Superintendent of Utilities, seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-662 was adopted.
Item 8: A Resolution appointing the Public Defender was discussed. Council Member Taunton made a motion to adopt the Resolution appointing Mike Griggs as the Public Defender, seconded by Council Member Hall. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-663 was adopted.
Item 9: A Resolution ratifying the use of depositories was discussed. Council Member Taunton made a motion to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-664 was adopted.
Item 10: A Resolution authorizing the expenditure of monies was discussed. Council Member Brown made a motion to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Council Member Godwin. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Resolution 2020-665 was adopted.
Item 11: The Appointment of Council Committees was discussed during the work session.
Finance Committee: Sarah Hill, Chairperson
Bill Godwin, Vice-Chairman
Bill Hall
Public Safety, Utilities & Shop Committee: Jeremy Taunton, Chairman
Damian Carr-Vice-Chairman
Fred Randall Hughey
Cemetery Committee: Jeremy Taunton, Chairman
Sarah Hill, Vice-Chairperson
Terrel Brown
Street, Storm Drains, Sanitation Committee: Damian Carr, Chairman
Bill Hall, Vice-Chairman
Sarah Hill
Buildings & Grounds Committee: Jeremy Taunton, Chairman
Bill Godwin, Vice-Chairman
Fred Randall Hughey
Parks & Recreation Committee: Terrel Brown, Chairman
Jeremy Taunton, Vice-Chairman
Bill Hall
Annexation Committee: Bill Godwin, Chairman
Sarah Hill, Vice-Chairman
Bill Hall
Urban Revitalization Committee: Terrel Brown, Chairman
Damian Carr, Vice-Chairman
Fred Randall Hughey
Council Representatives on Boards: Planning Commission- Jeremy Taunton
Mayor John Hammock
Recreation Board- Terrel Brown
Library Board- Fred Randall Hughey
Industrial Development Board: Bill Hall
Tallassee Redevelopment- Damian Carr
Community Development- Sarah Hill
Item 12: Council Reports:
Ward 1: This is a good group of council members, we can all work together without the back stabbing. Appreciates everyone here, thanks to everyone.
Ward 2: Looking forward to the next 4 years.
Ward 3: Wanted to thank Ward 3 for reelecting him, also thanks to his family. Looking forward to the future.
Ward 4: Wanted to thank God, his wife Gena, and the citizens of Ward 4 for this opportunity. Looking forward to great things.
Ward 5: Wanted to thank our Lord and Savior and Ward 5 for trusting him. Let’s all stay active in our city and do what’s best for the entire city.
Ward 6: Very pleased with what has been accomplished and what will be accomplished. Wanted to thank his wife Paula. Looking forward to the new people.
Ward 7: Thanking Ward 7 for believing in him and thanks to his wife Debra for her help and support.
Item 13: Mayor’s Reports.
Wanted to thank God for all of His help.
Proverbs 29:18 reads Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Thanks to the 5 returning council members for having vision and the intestinal fortitude to make the hard but necessary decisions to move Tallassee forward.
Welcome to the team Council Member Hall and Hughey. Looking forward to working with them over the next 4 years.
We are getting the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus and the people on the bus in the right seats. Make the city become a great city.
With the council and board working together, we can do great things.
Thanking his family for traveling form South Carolina, Tuscaloosa, Decatur, and Eclectic to be part of this special day with him.
Last, thanking his wife Kimberly. She has been a trooper through all of this. Can’t ever say that she does not love me with all that she has been through.
Council, I hope we can agree to disagree and be professional over the next 4 years. You will face many hard decisions but I can promise you if you do the right thing and what is best for Tallassee as a whole and not a chosen few you will sleep soundly at night.
Let’s all work together to move Tallassee forward into the future.
Item 14: There being no further business before the Council, upon a motion made by Council Member Taunton and a second by Council Member Hall, all Council Members present voted to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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WHITNEY PITCHFORD, City Clerk