News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston’s Board of Aldermen looked at three different options for the mayor’s hiring and firing powers during a Tuesday night work session.
The consensus among the board was to give the mayor power to hire city employees that are not supervisors or department heads.
However, Alderman Chris Speck said he heard from constituents who have reservations about this authority in a future mayor’s hands.
“The biggest consent from the people in the city that called me, they were afraid that a new mayor could come in and fire everybody across the board,” Speck said. “I understand that, I wouldn’t want that to happen either.”
This concern led the board to agree on giving the mayor power to only suspend a city employee, bringing it to the board for any further action. However, no action was taken on changes to the city charter because the board would like to review its current nepotism clause.
Alderman Kelly Coleman made the suggestion to explore the city’s options.
“Language may need to be incorporated into this, about that,” Coleman said. “You don’t want a mayor going out and hiring all of his family. You just can’t do that.”
Alderman John Clough made the recommendation about how the change to the city charter should read.
“I recommend we give the mayor the power to suspend, with cause for up to 30 days until the next board meeting,” Clough said. “I would also propose that the mayor has the authority to hire non-department heads and supervisors open budgeted positions and the mayor does not have the power to fire or terminate.”
Mayor Curtis Hayes said the reason for changing the city charter is to speed up the process for filling vacated positions. The charter change was on Tuesday night’s agenda but was tabled so a review of the current nepotism policy can be reviewed.
