Mayor Jim Sells is on vacation and was not at the meeting. Selma Coty served as Mayor Pro-Tem and in that role could only vote in case of a tie.
“There was a quorum,” said Coty. “Mr. Cooks and Mr. Lundy voted in favor of the recommendation. Mrs. Jabaley voted against the recommendation. If I had not been in the chair, I, too, would have voted against the recommendation.”
Despite not being at the city council meeting, Mayor Sells gave his opinion about the suspension.
“I am appalled at the council's decision to suspend our police chief without pay,” he said in an email.
“I believe Councilmen Cooks and Lundy have put their personal agenda ahead of the citizens’ best interest in Grantville. They have taken advantage of my absence on vacation and are abusing a dedicated city employee. Chief Jordan has my full support. He has the support of his staff and the community because of the job he is doing. At the next council meeting, with the full council present, I will ask to have his lost pay restored."
Chief Jordan will return to the office on Tuesday.
GA FReeper ping to an interesting story. I have been really learning lately that if you’re in a smaller city (say 75,000 or less), you really need to pay attention and keep tabs on your local government, and you can make a difference if you do.
Worth emphasizing:
Mayor Jim Sells - “Chief Jordan has my full support. He has the support of his staff and the community because of the job he is doing. At the next council meeting, with the full council present, I will ask to have his lost pay restored.”
This was some loose-cannon council members who got a temporary quorum and voted for this nonsense.
There is a lot of variation in city government and relative power between the council, mayor and the city manager. And often times the conflict arises around the police chief.
This little town probably has a weak mayor system.