GREENVILLE —
There was a police presence at the door, a crowd full of hecklers and a few verbal threats. But that didn’t stop the Greenville Town Council from passing an ordinance to create a town manager’s position, and to hire former councilman Randal Johnes to assume those duties. The measure passed by a 3-2 vote.
However, the vote, and the way the proceedings were conducted, left several of the 75 or so residents who attended the meeting angry and looking for answers.
“People just wanted information ... why do we need a town manager,” Wayne Kessinger asked after the meeting. “I’m appalled. It’s an embarrassment. What century is he living in?”
The “he” Kessinger was referring to is Greenville Town Council President Talbotte Richardson who said from the outset of the meeting he was not going to allow public comment at the special meeting. But that didn’t stop some from lashing out as Council Vice President Patti Hayes tried to read the ordinance.
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident.
Richardson, Hayes and Gregory Redden, all Republicans, voted in favor of the measure while Democrat Darryl Kepley and Republican Bob Wright voted against it.
Richardson allowed Kepley and Wright two minutes to speak prior to the vote, and both asked why residents were not allowed to address the council.
“No, it’s my meeting,” Richardson said.
Wright said he wanted to see something in writing that states residents would not be allowed to speak at a public meeting.
But Richardson had instructions passed out at the door explaining that the special meeting was called for informational purposes only and for the second and third reading of the ordinance to create the town manager’s position.
“I’ve never seen anyone run a meeting like that,” said Kepley who defeated Johnes by one vote last November. “We didn’t address the people’s concerns. He tries to bully his way and all he did was make everyone mad.”
Most of those in attendance were against hiring Johnes as town manager, including longtime resident Mike McKown.
“It’s an embarrassment to the people of Greenville,” he said. “This is not the kind of town I want to see at all. This town does not need a town manager if the town board does its job the way it is suppose to do it.”
Richardson insists a town manager is needed to oversee two big projects facing the town — the construction of a new water tower and the possible purchase of a sewer treatment plant in the Heritage Springs development. Johnes will be paid $150 a week for two years and then the position will be evaluated. Richardson said if the town did not have a town manager it would have to hire a consulting firm to oversee the projects costing as much as $40,000.
Redden, who was elected to the council last November, stuck around after the meeting to listen to residents’ concerns. He said he spent hours researching the issue before voting in favor of it.
“I’ve talked to people in the town, put hours of thought into it and thought it was best for the town,” he said. “I feel like Mr. Johnes has saved people money [with past ordinances] and hiring him as a consultant will help the town save more money.
“I represent the town. I am not going to run ... if people want to vent that is fine.”
An ordinance to transfer funds for the position of town manager also passed 3-2 on first reading. It will receive a second and third reading at the Feb. 13 meeting.
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