Fairhope Council Questions Mayoral Hiring Practices
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 38 BALDWIN LIVING Quilting not just The Courier a Southern thing PAGE 7 INSIDE JANUARY 18, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Fairhope council questions mayoral hiring practices Professional By CLIFF McCOLLUM dent Jack Burrell questioned such a hire and had brought on need.” Burrell responded that designation [email protected] whether Wilson had already Fairhope resident Lynn Maser the statute the mayor had previ- made the hire without asking for in the position. “I can hire who I ously cited to him as her basis for Fairhope Council Several Fairhope City Council council approval or publicly post- need and put in the salary I see the hiring authority was specific president Burrell members had questions about ing the job. fit,” Wilson said. “Hiring one and to Jefferson County and not the gets ACMO honor Mayor Karin Wilson’s hir- “Was someone already hired a half people for my office was city of Fairhope. “I do have doubt page 3 ing practices during the Jan. 9 for this position?” Burrell asked. about the same as the full-time that you can hire them or created Fairhope council meeting. Wilson “Did I not see someone working assistant that Tim Kant had. I the position without it being bud- was seeking council approval to in city hall with a badge in this think it’s safe to say the citizens geted,” Burrell said. “You can’t create a part-time executive assis- position?” Wilson responded she want me to get in and get things tant position, but Council Presi- felt she had the authority to make done and have the support I SEE MAYOR, PAGE 2 Chamber gets fresh start under one roof Council, SPECIAL TO THE COURIER mayor Staff at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Com- tussle merce are excited to face Newton School 2017 with a fresh new spelling bee start, beginning with over moving Chamber staff Boys sweep the board into one office location. at school competition Chamber officials contract page 3 said this move will allow Chamber staff to be more efficient with their By CLIFF McCOLLUM time and communica- [email protected] tion. It will also allow the Chamber to get the most Disagreements over the out of the funds they are selection of an engineering entrusted with. firm to study Fairhope’s “No matter where we water, sewer and gas sys- go to do our daily tasks, tems created some tense we serve the entire East- moments during the Jan. ern Shore from Span- 9 Fairhope City Council ish Fort to Point Clear work session and meeting. Piano man and places in between. Mayor Karin Wilson rec- Steinway & Sons That commitment never ommended that Cassady gallery arrives on changes,” said Chamber Company, a Northport the Eastern Shore President Casey Wil- based firm, be awarded page 4 liams. the contract to study Moving forward, all Fairhope’s water, sewer staff will be working out and gas systems. Complete with a new coat of paint, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce is excited SEE CHAMBER, PAGE 2 to have its staff consolidated all under one roof at the Bloxham building in Fairhope. SEE CONTRACT, PAGE 37 ‘A Ghostly Soiree’ Share spirits with Potter’s Mill receives Best Neighborhood Entrance award the spirits of the Swift-Coles Home SUBMITTED their landscaping and hardscap- page 6 ing is very much in keeping with The Daphne Beautification Com- the spirit of the city, which incor- mittee, Daphne Planning Depart- porates all of the elements and DEATHS PAGE 23 ment and the city of Daphne are styles Daphne loves. pleased to announce the winner Accepting the award are Cheri Warren Joseph Boutreis Jr. of the Best Neighborhood En- Forte, POA secretary and John Dr. Helen Duggar Conwell trance of 2017 is Potter’s Mill, lo- McCarty, landscaping chair, Inez Davis cated in District 2 on Main Street. along with Beautification Com- Steven Ernest Hodges Their commitment to maintain mittee members, Mayor Dane Edith May Schultz Horton an extremely attractive face to Haygood and Councilman Pat the city is much appreciated and Rudicell. INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 7-8 OUT & ABOUT, 18 Coast CLASSIFIED, 25-26 PUZZLES, 12 Media HEALTH, 15-17 SPORTS, 9-11 VOLUME 123 • ISSUE 25 LEGALS, 27-34 TV LISTINGS, 19-22 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES OPINION, 13-14 2• The Courier •January 18, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media back that can be used for CHAMBER committee meetings and CONTINUED FROM 1 a welcome area to greet tourists, members and of the Fairhope office at residents. 327 Fairhope Avenue. “We are excited about The Fairhope loca- the ability to communi- tion has been part of the cate in person within one Chamber’s history for office. We are already decades. more efficient and pro- It was originally con- ductive as a team,” said structed in 1932 to serve Williams. as a real estate and insur- Chamber officials said ance office for Carl L. the City of Daphne has Bloxham. His name can been gracious in allowing still be found cut into the the Chamber to operate facade of the building at the Scenic Overlook today. location for nearly two de- After Bloxham retired cades. This move will give in 1953, it was used for a Daphne the opportunity variety of offices under to utilize that building for the ownership of Henry its citizens. Rowe and Forrest Warren. The Chamber of Com- Daphne City Council merce moved into the President Ron Scott said building in 1969 when the he still felt confident that building was owned by even with the Chamber Guy Bagley. changing office locations, In the late 1980s it was they would still represent donated to the Chamber all of the Eastern Shore. by the late Guy Bagley “We sat down with and dedicated to the Casey and she explained memory of Emily Bagley the relocation with us,” and her daughter Worth Scott said. “She reiter- Bagley. ated that just because The Eastern Shore they will be located Chamber has also taken in Fairhope does not this opportunity to give mean that they are just this historic building the Fairhope chamber. some much needed up- They’re still the East- dates including a fresh ern Shore Chamber and coat of paint and new we’re excited to continue flooring. The reconfig- to work with them for the ured office allows for a betterment of our city This photo from the early 20th century shows the Bloxham building in its original role as a real estate and insurance office. conference area in the and the entire area.” per hour, more than two personnel procedures,” much at all,” Burrell re- and this person equals staff I needed, so I hired a MAYOR weeks before Wilson Wynne said. “If it doesn’t plied. Wilson said she just what Tim Kant had be- part-time person.” Coun- CONTINUED FROM 1 sought council approval exist and it isn’t budgeted, wanted to have a team in fore.” Wilson added that cilman Jay Robinson told for the position. The sal- you have to wait until place that could help her without a final budget for Wilson he wanted to give hire someone for a job that ary range for the position that’s done.” Wilson told do the jobs the citizens the fiscal year set, there her all the help that she doesn’t exist of that has stretched from $38,270 Burrell she didn’t appreci- of Fairhope have asked have been issues that needed, but said he didn’t not been funded.” to $61,232. City Attorney ate how the situation was her to do. “Bottom line, I require more staffing for feel comfortable with A Fairhope human Marion ‘Tut’ Wynne said being handled. “You could think that I need the help city hall. “We’re working creating another posi- resources document ob- after looking at the law have called me on this, to move this city forward,” with a very slim staff right tion without a full budget tained by The Courier in question, he felt the Jack,” Wilson said. Burrell Wilson said. “I did not now for what we have as in place. Wilson seemed shows that Maser was position had to be created responded quickly. “Other come in with a transition an administrative team,” angered by Robinson’s hired for the part-time through the existing per- than make allegations team. I hired a part-time Wilson said. “I didn’t do response. “You’re blocking position on Dec. 24 of last sonnel structure. “I think that are baseless against person to help me do some this because I was trying me,” Wilson said. “If you year at a rate of $19.23 it has to go through the me, you haven’t called me research and that’s what to sneak something by. I listen to the citizens, if you I felt like I’ve needed. The read that I could hire to pay attention to the work full time person I’ve hired get the administrative session, you’re blocking me. If it’s from Karin, let’s Fear vs. Faith go ahead and microman- age it.” Robinson denied Do you act from fear or faith? This (the responses of fear are always The Courier the claim that he or other is a fundamental question that sits at fi ght or fl ight), welcome them with council members were try- the headwaters of all of our decision- the open arms of faith. How? That’s 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 ing to block Wilson or her making.