Rules Set for Commissioner Meetings, Interim Mayor
The Weakley County Rules Committee met on Tuesday, September 3 to discuss multiple meeting payment policy and the adoption of rules changes related to the role of interim county mayor. Commissioners on the Rules Committee include Roger Donaldson, Dennis Doster, Marcus Hopper,
Greg Usery, Gary Eddings, Larry Taylor, Billy Hazlewood, Jimmy Westbrook and David Bell.
The multiple meeting payment policy was discussed and options were presented. The first option considered was that if a commissioner attends multiple meetings in one day, they will only get paid for one meeting with the higher paid meeting being compensated. The second option discussed was that if there were multiple meetings held on the same day, board members who attended all meetings would get paid for every meeting.
Currently, board members are paid for multiple meetings even if they happen on the same day. The Rules board voted to keep things the way they currently are and for members to keep getting paid for multiple meetings even if they happen on the same day. This was passed unanimously.
The board discussed adopting rules in the event another interim County Mayor had to be appointed. Should the county legislative body receive notice of a vacancy of the county mayor’s office less than 120 days before a general election, and the county legislative body does not wish to make an appointment to fill the vacancy, the presiding officer of the county legislative body shall assume the duties, roles and responsibilities of the county mayor and may be entitled to compensation of the county mayor’s salary in an amount to be determined by and voted on by the majority of the county legislative body.
Dennis Doster, who served as interim mayor leading up to Dale Hutcherson’s election, stated that he received recommendation from the Tennessee Comptrollers office which stated, “if a person steps into that role they are, in fact, mayor and are due all privileges of that office as far as compensation.” Doster said there was also a caveat in there which states, “it is still up to the county commission to set what compensation would be if they think it’s appropriate to be less.”
The board voted to adopt this policy unanimously and, in the event a vacancy happens in the future, the commissioners would determine at that time what the pay for the interim mayor would be set at.
Hutcherson also introduced his new secretary at the meeting. Lauren Rush, Secretary for the County Mayor is being moved to a new department and the new secretary, Melinda Dortch, who has been training with Rush the past two weeks to learn the ropes of the mayor’s office will be taking over duties soon.
The County Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 16th at 5 p.m. at the Weakley County Courthouse.
