The Empty Chair

With Tony Dover moving from the position of Vice-Mayor to Mayor a position on the council is opening up. This position will be filled with tomorrow night when they get to "New Business" and deal with items 'I' and 'J'.

i. Consideration of appointment of Vice-Mayor.
j. Consideration of appointment of member to the Town Council to fill unexpired term.

Normally items on the town meeting agenda are discussed on the previous workshop but this was not. The codes are pretty simple on the subject.

If the office of mayor shall become vacant, the vice-mayor shall automatically become mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term; and in the latter event, the council shall elect another of its members to the office of vice-mayor to serve during the remainder of the unexpired term. The council shall fill the vacancy in the council created by the vice-mayor becoming mayor.

This leaves the question of whom will be picked.

Late last week Mealand did two article on 5 people who have already stepped forward to seek this position.

Caroyln Peebles, who has lived in Smyrna for almost 35 years, has already contacted several council members to let them know she'd like to be considered.
.........
Mayor Dover said he'd also heard from Richard Garvin Jr., who is also black, via e-mail Thursday afternoon. Garvin, a motivational speaker, is a member of the town's Historical Zoning Committee

Councilwoman Mary Esther Reed said she'd heard from three others outside of Peebles: Jimmy Richardson, Marc Adkins and Rob White. Richardson ran against Reed in the 2006 Democratic primary for state House District 34. Both Adkins, a Realtor, and White, who works as deputy inspector general for the state, currently serve on the town's Planning Commission.

I worked with Rob White while he was on the Storm Water Advisory Board before he moved to the planning committee. I feel he would be a good addition to the council.

These two articles (article 2) were written last week so I suspect there might be others by now.

I am intrigued by one item on the agenda for tomorrow nights meeting. Under citizens comments.

2. Pastor Ronnie Simmons, 205 Valley Court – “Vacant Council Position”

I wonder what the Pastor will have to say on this vacancy?