By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
Hornbeak aldermen have approved an ordinance which will allow a city employee to serve as an alderman.
The action comes in the wake of an earlier decision to ask alderman Paul Truett to resign in order to avoid a possible conflict with his also working for the town.
Truett does contract labor for the town and works to maintain its sewer system. He is retired from Goodyear and he runs the Hornbeak Water Utility District.
At a Jan. 8 board meeting, Hornbeak Mayor Dennis Dozier told aldermen that Truett is now a certified sewer collection agent for Tennessee and, according to the state, a problem could exist with his illegally serving on the board because he works for the town. The Municipal Technical Advisory Service had recommended against his serving as an alderman, but the mayor had emphasized what MTAS offered was simply “advice.”
Dozier had told aldermen earlier this month that Truett is very helpful with the town’s sewer system, but, according to the advice given, the only way he could continue to serve as an alderman was if the board passed an ordinance allowing city employees to serve in that capacity.
Some board members had questioned whether there could be a liability on the town, but others had expressed a desire to have more information about any potential liability before making a decision. The board ultimately voted 4-2 at the Jan. 8 meeting to ask Truett to resign from the board of aldermen.
In the aftermath of the decision, a special called meeting was scheduled specifically to discuss the sewer collection operator position and the alderman position.
At Thursday night’s brief called meeting, aldermen were presented with a proposed ordinance which would allow a city employee to serve on Hornbeak’s board of aldermen.
After some discussion, alderman Leon Walden made the motion to accept the ordinance and it was approved on first reading by a vote of 4-0, according to city recorder Joyce Truett. Alderman Robbie Riley abstained and aldermen Don Petty and Paul Truett were absent.
Ms. Truett told The Messenger the ordinance requires two readings, with the second reading scheduled for the board’s next regular meeting on Feb. 5.
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Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by email at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 1.25.13