REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

MARCH 17, 2008

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on March 17, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. in the Ashland City Hall Auditorium with Mayor Terry Turner presiding. Council Members present were Zeola D. Echols, Bobbie J. Steed, Gail E. Thompson and Rebecca G. Boddie. Also present was City Clerk Charles E. Foster, Asst. City Clerk Donna J. Bennett, Police Chief Benny Davis, Fire Chief Joel McMath,  Librarian Tina Nolen, Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hanners, Leland Steed and Abby Pruet of the Clay Times-Journal.

 

     Code Enforcement Officer Terry Raughton was absent.

    

     Mayor Turner called the meeting to order and Council Member Boddie gave the invocation.

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the agenda with the following additions. Under New Business, add  Item No. 3. - Hiring of non-certified police officer; Item No. 4.  - Purchase of batter’s box equipment; Item No. 5. -  Hiring of a maintenance laborer; Item No. 6. - Step pay increase for Lester Robinson and changing his employment position to Co-Assistant Supervisor with the Maintenance Department and Item No. 7. - Annual cleanup in the Westside Community. This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Thompson moved to approve the minutes of the previous planning meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     There were no informational items.

 

     Under Committee Reports, Mayor Turner expressed his gratitude to the Fire and Police Departments for their professional work during the recent house fire on AL Highway 77 North.

 

     Council Member Echols and Steed did not report.

 

     Council Member Thompson welcomed Fire Chief Joel McMath.

 

     Council Member Boddie also welcomed Chief McMath and went on to thank the Maintenance Department for their work outside of regular hours for storm debris removal.

 

     City Clerk Foster and Maintenance Supervisor Hanners did not report.

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     Police Chief Davis reported that Johnny Hamlin would graduate from the Police Academy on March 27, 2008.

 

     Fire Chief McMath stated that he had spoken with Brian Martin concerning the general maintenance of the 1998 and 2001 Pierce pumpers and that the cost would be approximately $4000.00.

 

     Chief McMath asked that his department be allowed to solicit bids for a thermo- imaging camera.  It was asked that Chief McMath submit specifications and bidders list to City Hall with bids to be opened on April 21 at the regular Council Meeting.

 

     Librarian Tina Nolen reported that Former Governor John Patterson along with Author Warren Trest would be at the Clay County Courthouse on April 17, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. for a book signing.  The biography of Governor Patterson is called Nobody But the People.

 

     Under new business, Council Member Thompson moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $26618.39.  Council Member Boddie seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Thompson made a motion to designate Zeola Echols as voting delegate and Bobbie J. Steed as an alternate voting delegate at the Annual Convention Business Meeting of the Alabama League of Municipalities to be held May 17-20, 2008 in Birmingham.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Davis, Council Member Boddie made a motion to hire Joseph Stanford as a non-certified police officer to begin at Range 13, Step 1 with a one year probationary period and eligibility for a step increase at end of six month employment.  Mr. Stanford will be enrolled in the next session of the police academy witch will begin in May.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Echols made a motion to purchase two (2) batter’s box equipment sets for Williamson Field and Northside T-Ball Field at an approximate cost of $2000.00.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to advertise for the hiring of a maintenance department laborer with salary range to be Range 9, Step 1 - Step 10.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Steed and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to reclassify maintenance employee Lester Robinson as Co-Assistant Supervisor and he be given a step increase to Range 12, Step 8.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Steed and all votes were unanimous.