Mayor: Council appointment is a 'done deal'

By Staff
Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
The appointment of Alvin Abercrombie to the Hartselle City Council is a "done deal" and any efforts to change it are futile, according to Mayor Clif Knight.
"All it takes is a majority of the council to appoint a new member," Knight said. "Now, we just need to get on to city business."
Knight swore in Abercrombie on July 28. Knight said he did so with the "concurrence of City Attorney Larry Madison and the witness of City Clerk/Treasurer Rita Lee."
Abercrombie was appointed July 22 on a 3-2 vote, with Knight and councilmen Frank Jones and Dick Carter voting in favor and councilmen Tom Chappell and Don Hall casting "no" ballots. Abercrombie takes the place of Allen Stoner, who moved to Decatur.
Last week, Chappell sent a letter to the mayor protesting the manner in which Abercrombie was appointed. Chappell said the matter was never discussed in a work session or a meeting.
"We unanimously decided to announce the vacancy and then were going to discuss the applicants at a work session and make a decision at that point about whether or not to hold interviews or make and appointment without any interviews if there was a consensus selection," Chappell said in his letter. "We did not even get to the discussion. What happened?"
Chappell also sent a letter to the other eight people who were seeking the council post, apologizing for the appointment.
Chappell asked to be put on the Aug. 12 council agenda so the appointment could be discussed.
In a letter sent to Chappell and other members of the council, Knight said that is not going to occur.
"You made your displeasure known as to the appointment of council member Abercrombie," Knight said. "If you wish to pursue the matter further you may avail yourself of that opportunity when the council members are recognized to offer comments at the conclusion of our next regular meeting on Aug. 12."