posted October 30, 2009
A citizen recommended Thursday night that East Ridge add a section to its charter allowing citizens to recall city officials.
Frances Pope said the only recourse available now for citizens unhappy with the performance of officials is an ouster process in Criminal Court.
Mrs. Pope said if disgruntled citizens had the recall option "we could have avoided the recent ouster mess." A small group of citizens sought to oust Mayor Mike Steele, who finally got the case dismissed after several hearings and a number of motions were filed.
Mrs. Pope said, "Citizens put people in office and they ought to have the option to take them out."
City Attorney John Anderson said even if the recall provision is added, the ouster process would still be on the books since it is a state law.
Mayor Steele said adding the recall process would require a charter study commission to recommend it, then the voters would have to approve it in an election.
Ann Pruett, widow of longtime Mayor Fred Pruett, spoke to the commission about the recent "ridiculous" ouster effort.
The 66-year East Ridge resident said if there is a need to remove a city official "the GBI or the FBI will come in and take them out in handcuffs."
The commission again put off a vote on whether East Ridge should pay a remaining debt of over $15,000 owed by Mayor Steele to attorney Dee Hobbs for representing him in the ouster case. There were only three commission members present with Denny Manning and Larry Sewell out.
In other action, City Manager William Whitson recommended that $34,000 of a $560,000 city surplus be used for one-time bonuses for city employees. He said he would not be included.
Full-time employees would get one-time $250 checks and part-time workers $100 checks.
Other recommendations for use of the surplus:
$215,000 to stay in a rainy day fund
$80,000 to go for 911 unification expenses
$27,000 for capital items
$20,000 for the YMCA Academy
$79,000 for flood expenses
$60,000 for upgrading IT systems
$10,000 for flood engineering support
$10,000 for an Energize East Ridge grant
$15,000 for economic development marketing of East Ridge
$5,000 for neighborhood grants
$5,000 for flood bank grants
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