At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Aldermen debated a city administrative position as well as voted 4-3 not to renew board attorney Bill Stark’s contract. Just after Alderman P.C. McLaurin commended high citizen participation, he denied rumors that he was trying to create a city administrative position for himself. He made reference to Mayor Mack Rutledge playing a part in spreading those rumors. The audience members showed their disapproval of McLaurin’s behavior by booing loudly at him. Police Chief David Lindley threatened that any more behavior as such from the audience would result in ejection.
The mayor’s response to McLaurin’s comments was very minimal but he did say,
“McLaurin, I know you think there are a lot of crazy people in this room but they are not as crazy as you think they are.”
Alderman at Large Vic Zitta was the only one that objected to McLaurin’s motion that the city administrator position be filled on or after Oct. 1, 2003, that ample public announcements be made about the position, that the position comply with state statutes and that the person be superintended by the mayor. Zitta said McLaurin voted against a similar motion Aug. 20. McLaurin’s response was that “I resent nothing.”
Starkville citizen Arleen Clapp told the Board of Aldermen that no one had contacted her to speak out about the issue. Clapp said she felt confident in Rutledge’s work and felt like he could do his job well without an additional administrator.
“I am a bit appalled by the behavior of this board, and I would hope that the mayor, the aldermen and the city attorney would get along-at least in public,” Clapp said. “It is embarrassing to see this.”
Green Oaks resident Chuck Scarborough also addressed the board regarding the administrative position by saying “there is no doubt that Mayor Mack Rutledge is able to carry on the mayor’s job with energy and intellect to spare.” Scarborough passed out flyers stating arguments against the ordinance to the audience members and the board, referring to the “Gang of Five” who had voted in favor of the position.
After a brief recess, Stark responded a number of allegations brought against him regarding an attorney general’s opinion he requested on the city administrator position Sept. 22. Stark responded to every allegation individually. The resolution adopted by the board by a 5-2 vote was vetoed on Aug. 21 by Rutledge and Stark’s request was made on Aug. 27. On Sept. 3, the veto was overridden and Stark said the request for the attorney general’s opinion was on a pending board action instead of a past one like Ward 6 Alderman Roy Perkins had said.
Stark also responded to an allegation made by Perkins that Stark must have the board’s approval for such requests. Stark said that the attorney general’s opinion are an available resource and have been used by several of the current aldermen.
Stark denied the allegation that his $600 fee for obtaining the opinion was not excessive and he “just wants that put on the record.” Stark went on to say that the opinion could in fact save the city the salary of a city administrator and protect aldermen from personal liability for an illegal act. He ended by saying that he didn’t expect renewal of his contract especially after what’s happened in the last year.
“I have appreciated the opportunity to serve as your city attorney for the past nine years and it has been a privilege and an honor,” Stark said. “But I don’t expect the city to renew my contract after all of this.”
The board acted as Stark expected with a 4-3 vote to decline Stark’s services. Alderman Zitta, Alderman Virgil Bolin of Ward 5 and Alderman Sumner Davis of Ward 1 all opposed the motion.
Stark was offered by the board to continue with the city for 60 more days but he declined the offer. Zitta said he supports Stark and wishes him well with future plans.
In other business:
* The board approved the fiscal 2002-2003 budget with a unanimous vote. The general fund was set at $11.1 million and the enterprise fund budget was at $1.9 million.
* Superintendent of Starkville School District Larry Box updated the board on students’ standardized test performance.
* The board voted 4-3 to proceed with projected plans for J.L. King Park without the running track requested by Suli Ali, a summer track coach in the Starkville area.