Aldermen slash Mayor's pay 50%

In a special called meeting to approve payroll for employees with the City of Holly Springs, Monday, the Holly Springs Board of Aldermen discussed payroll issues and slashed Mayor Sharon Gipson’s pay by 50 percent.

Aldermen took up general a city personnel matter and an HSUD personnel matter on the agenda in open session after going into closed session to determine the need for executive session.

The main reason for the called meeting by alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp and Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather was to approve payroll after Gipson refused to sign the payroll.

Shipp, reluctant to sign the payroll again, possibly its third or fourth time, said it is his job as vice-mayor to act when the mayor is out of town or otherwise unable to attend to her duties.

Shipp said he would sign the payroll by Tuesday at noon so employees could get paid, if the mayor did not change her mind and sign the payroll.

There was sufficient money in the account to cover the payroll, according to city clerk Jerrica Jones.

The board also discussed advertising for a Human Resources position in the new budget, before acting on the payroll issue. They said the two business matters were interconnected. They approved a motion to advertise for an HR position and asked Jones to send them copies of any applicants and resumes of those who respond to the advertisement.

Jones said she took the payroll for Shipp to sign when the mayor refused.

“What are the ramifications?” asked Merriweather.

Jones said other items such as health insurance, federal tax withholdings, child support payments, and garnishments could be affected if payroll is not approved. All employees receive their pay now by direct deposit, she said. She said the checks cannot be cut without approval.

Shipp said it is not his duty to approve payroll except in cases where the mayor is sick or out of office or out of town. Then he signs.

He said this is the third or fourth time he has had to sign for payroll for the mayor.

Merriweather said the board is forced to act and this is nothing new.

“It is the responsibility of the mayor to handle day-today,” she said. “It deeply concerns me to have to get involved in the day-to-day to keep it from becoming a bigger issue.”

“We’ve got to get our bills paid, keep our bills paid in good standing,” Merriweather said. “We don’t want that insurance check to bounce. A stumbling block has been presented this time, so we’ve got to make a move in terms of how to get things done past our blockage.

“We don’t have power to suspend, to remove, however, we are still held accountable to the citizens in handling the business of our great city. This is nothing we taking lightly when cutting anyone’s pay. It is the last resort. I’ve said it three times to file an injunction or lower the mayor’s pay. This is ridiculous to me to not sign payroll because you have a problem with one individual.

“The bigger issue is that the money has to be put into the account to cover the pay of empoyee’s checks and to pay the bills of the city.”

“I move we cut the mayor’s pay.”

Fountain agreed with Merriweather that only one employee was involved in Gipson’s decision.

“One person is definitely not going to stop the city,” she said. “Shipp has been signing for months.” Board attorney Garret Estes checked the statutes.

“We are determined under the circumstances, if the checks are not cleared, it will be a bad move for the city,” Shipp said.

Merriweather reiterated a number of projects the board has wanted notched forward but she alleged the mayor would not act on.

They included the cast-iron replacement project delayed for three and a half years under this administration.

“No street has been paved. The road is unfinished in the cemetery. The Ida B. Wells Street signs. The marquee at the Multi-purpose Building is purchased and just sitting there. The rails at the ditch on West Street is not repaired. The utility and city audits,” Merriweather said. “We hired an audit company and have they come, Jerrica?”

‘No,” said the city clerk. “These are some of the projects we asked the mayor to complete over a course of three years. That is part of my motion to cut the mayor’s pay,” Merriweather said. “You are the one who has to sign it, and you did not?” Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain asked Shipp. “The reason I didn’t sign it is because this has been going on for a while,” Shipp said. “It’s time to take a stand. It’s not my job. If the mayor were sick or unable to, it would be my duty. It’s not fair to me.” Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel, who was attending the meeting by telephone, said he agrees with the others. “I’ve fought this fight for three and a half years, and done everything I can do to try to make it work,” he said. Estes advised the statutes say a majority of the board of aldermen have to approve a motion in order to cut the mayor’s pay.

“Does that mean the vice-mayor is not responsible to sign if the mayor refuses to sign it?” Fountain asked.

“It’s the mayor’s duty to sign. Three is a majority,” Estes said.

The board paused to make a motion to authorize the HR position to be advertised and it passed by a vote of 3-0. Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones was absent.

Estes provided advice on the language to be used in a motion to cut the mayor’s pay. Merriweather then made a motion to reduce the mayor’s pay by 50 percent, to take effect immediately.

“Second,” said Teel. On a roll call vote, Fountain, Teel and Merriweater voted to cut the mayor’s pay immediately. Shipp refused to sign for the payroll. Neither Shipp or Gipson signed for the payroll as of bank closing time on Tuesday afternoon.