Oct 12 2021
First, from Cullen Hightower: If we fixed a hangnail the way our government fixes the economy, we'd slam a car door on it.
Now, before we offer up another healthy dose of life in the slow lane, be sure to go back and read our coverage of the regular meeting of Town Council (Oct 15). This new update will make a lot more sense. Thanks
Clay Town Council held a special meeting on Oct 12th. Special meetings are reserved for stuff that can't wait until a regularly scheduled meeting of the agency. Present for this meeting were Mayor Josh Shamblin, Recorder Cindy Mullins, and Councilpersons Renee Moore, Jason Hubbard, and Barry Peyton. Absent from duty were Joyce Gibson and Jerry Stover. Minutes before the meeting, Stover was seen walking down Main Street but in the opposite direction.
Somewhere in the chitter chatter, it came out, the Town's wawa plant account has over $200,000 on hand, unspent. $200,000!!!
During that regular Oct meeting, Council opened up a can of speed-up and passed into law, a completely new employee handbook. Councilperson Hubbard was the spark plug for the fast paced initiative. We couldn't figure out the reason for that hustle. He said that he didn't want any new persons to be hired under the old handbook.
During this special meeting we found the reason for the rush. On the meeting agenda was re hiring Cheyney Cruickshanks. Unfortunately, before this meeting opened, Cheyney decided to withdraw her name from consideration. Workers are hard to find and a returning Ms Cruickshanks is one that would have been an asset for the municipality. All that rushed handbook for nothing now!
OK. During the last meeting, two local business owners showed up supporting the Mayor / Hubbard's notion that we need additional taxes on local businesses and and and, we need a municipal court to ticket every nose picking tourist that ventures this direction.
For this meeting, that small business group came in search of $$$ to fund a new local festival. As presented, the Fall Festival wound be a one day event to be held (maybe) Nov 6th from 11 to 5pm. Fun stuff would include a bounce house, food items like funnel cakes, parade, corn hole tournament, live music, hay ride on ERTS, and food trucks. Attempts will be made to use local vendors during the event.
Mayor Shamblin raised concerns over having such a super spreader event during the pandemic. In response, and somewhat confusing to the peanut gallery, in response, the group said , if COVID is on the uptick, they could reschedule the fun time and call it a Winter Fest at a later date.
Their request was for $5300 to make it happen. With loads of COVID dollars available, the request was lowered to $5089.00 and passed with the money coming from the $97,000 COVID cash cow account.
Sorry to be wishy-washy readers but the conversations were over top of each other and running in circles. If that new group sends out flyers for the Fest, we will post on the EVENTS page of this site.
Municipal governments in this state operate either as a strong Mayor or strong Office Manager style. Usually, the strong Office Manager form of government is reserved for large towns. That form renders the Mayor and Council to backseat leaders.
For the first time ever, on this special meeting agenda, was mention of an Office Manager job for the Town of Clay. Want a cushy job in downtown Clayberry, Council agreed to run an employment ad for the position. Wonder who they have in mind for that position? Also, wonder if Town leadership would be willing hands off of the day to day running of the hamlet.
Newbee Barry Peyton came up with a long list of items, suggestions, that need to happen in town, ways to promote it and business growth. Peyton, "Lets invest now for the future..."
Somewhere in his mix came the need to have a grant writer on board as well as a municipal court.
No action was taken on Mr Peyton's ideas.
The special meeting ended after 81 minutes.
A couple notes.
With plenty of money on hand, it's time to spend it!
In years past, the idea of a Municipal Court (and a B&O tax) popped up on meeting agendas. After local outcry, both ideas were tucked away and off the table for another year or so.
This time around, it's obvious, there's a more planned, organized, attempt to get both on the books real quick. Councilperson Jason Hubbard and Mayor Shamblin are at the forefront in this battle. Neither operate a full profit business in town. The only elected official with an operating for profit business is Councilperson Renee Moore. Ms Moore has not ventured any comments in public on the economy busting B&O tax.
For clarity, Council person Joyce Gibson operated businesses in town for a number of years but is now retired out of the furniture business.
Maybe you are in favor of a regressive business and occupation tax. Maybe you think we have the brain power to write tickets and administer justice thru a municipal court. Others may thinking, both are bone head ideas. In other case, let Town leadership know what you think before it's too late
AW