Meeker’s Town Board has filled a vacant position and later meeting as the Public Works Authority voted to uphold the termination of a PWA employee.
Their actions came during a special meeting last week.
They appointed Lanny Thompson to fill the vacant board position created by the abrupt resignation of Trustee Rick Hill on July 15. During the special meeting last week, they went into executive session to interview three candidates.
Those included Thompson, Mike Orman and Mike Melton, former Town administrator who retired several years ago. Melton also had served previously on the Town Board.
During a regular meeting on Aug. 16, the Trustees interviewed Josiah Romano for the position as well.
Meeting later as the PWA, they went into executive session briefly to discuss Chad Rowan who had been fired recently by former Town Administrator Dickie Walton.
Following the executive session and reconvening in the open meeting, Trustee Aaron Head made the motion to uphold the termination. Trustee Billy Walker seconded the motion.
Mayor Jeff Wilbourn joined Head and Walker in upholding Rowan’s termination
Trustee Donna Weber was not in attendance at the special meeting. During the general meeting of the Town Board, the Trustees voted 3-0 to give the authority to the mayor/ vice mayor to sign purchase orders and make decisions a Town Administrator would normally make if needed in absence of the Administrator.
The Trustees, during a special meeting Aug. 25, voted 4-0 to fire Walton. No reason has been given for their action to terminate him.
The vice mayor can only do it when the mayor is incapacitated or unless the mayor gives her the authority.
Trustees tabled three other agenda items dealing with spending limits for the mayor and vice mayor, Town Clerk-Treasurer and police chief.
In the PWA portion of the meeting, they also took no action on purchasing back tires for the backhoe tractor and tabled action on hiring Orr Construction to repair the Mitchell Wyatt property.