January 12, 2016 - The City of Timpson remains without a mayor following the special council meeting held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. The reason for the meeting was to resolve an illegal outcome of the previous meeting and to clear up a misunderstanding.
"We had a incident happen at the last meeting and it's on tape, where our ex-mayor instructed our city secretary that we could not appoint someone from outside this council as mayor," said Ronnie Wolfe.
Wolfe then requested the audience remain silent throughout the meeting, "Keep your comments till after the meeting, no applause and this is done in accordance with state law, and you will be removed from the room if you express yourself in any way while this meeting's in order if you're not on the agenda."
After instructing the audience be silent, Wolfe explained the illegal action of the previous meeting, "The other mistake that was made, I cannot vote for myself to be mayor. So we can leave it like it is and law says I can, as mayor pro tem, I can conduct the meetings till the next regularly scheduled election, or we can appoint somebody from out in the community or from off of this board."
Al Skinner, Timpson resident, addressed the council about the possibility of having future meetings at a venue which can handle a large attendance as there have been many meetings in Timpson with standing room only circumstances. He suggested the possibility of hosting meetings at the Community House in So So Park and asked the council to consider the possibility at the next meeting.
Any council member has the right to ask for an item to be put on the meeting agenda, and only that council member can remove the item, according to state law.
As the meeting continued, the council moved on to the first item on the agenda. Wolfe stated the two options for the council are to appoint a new mayor, if the council can all agree on someone, or to as he stated, "leave it like it is" and mayor pro tem will preside over the meetings until the next election in May. George Grace offered a motion to "leave it as is," which was seconded by Janell Baker. Yvonne Ramsey offered for Kenny Walker to be appointed mayor until May; however, Walker declined. The motion to "leave it as is" carried with four council members in favor and Ramsey not in favor.
Wolfe stated since the council voted not to appoint a mayor there was no reason to move forward with the next agenda item of appointing a mayor pro tem as he stated he will still be the mayor pro tem.
The motion of the previous agenda item to, "leave it as is," was less than explanatory. Does this bring into question who holds the position of the mayor pro tem? At the previous meeting of the Timpson City Council, the vote for mayor was illegal because Wolfe could not vote for himself; however, George Grace was appointed mayor pro tem with the motion made by Kyle Allen, seconded by Yvonne Ramsey and carried by vote of the council. If the vote for mayor pro tem doesn't stand then by the same thought process, other items approved during the January 4 meeting would also be null.
Another item which may be in question is the Resolution of Authority also voted on at the previous meeting. The resolution removed Debra Pate Smith and gave authority to "Mayor" Ronnie Wolfe, as well as Mayor Pro Tem George Grace over the Austin Bank accounts for the city. This was not addressed at the January 12 meeting. Since Wolfe broke a tie to carry the vote on the resolution of authority at the January 4 meeting, who now has that authority, and will this be addressed at the next Timpson Council meeting.
Meetings are scheduled to be held on the third Tuesday of every month, which would be next Tuesday, January 19, 2016 and for which an agenda has not yet been circulated.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:41pm.
Shelby County Today will continue to research and seek answers from the Texas Municipal League regarding these issues.
