Board discusses mayor’s veto

The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen sought to override Mayor Sharon Gipson’s veto of a motion that her pay be cut by 50 percent at the Oct. 15 meeting of the mayor and board of aldermen.

Board attorney John Keith Perry Jr. was asked by vicemayor Dexter Shipp about the option to override Gipson’s veto as the board came out of executive session.

“What about the veto? That was pretty much it,” Perry reported Shipp saying.

“The veto that we had the last meeting to cut the mayor’s salary,” Shipp said. “My motion to override.”

Gipson called for a motion to override her veto.

Shipp made the motion to override the mayor’s Oct. 3 veto of the board’s motion to cut her salary by 50 percent.

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel seconded the motion.

Discussion followed with background provided by Perry.

He said he assumed the board was talking about a general override, but he had not discussed it as more than the general questions about it.

“I think the power to do that is there,” he said. “If y’all want me, I can address one issue I did have with it, though. I think if there is going to be a declination of pay for whatever reason, I think it has to be more of an incremental than 50 percent. And it also has to be for a specific amount of time and address the specific items (reasons) for which you are doing it (cutting the mayor’s salary)

“So, in other words, if you say it’s going to be 10 percent until the following is done, then I think that that would be more proper than just a general 50 percent. That was the concern, and I did have a conversation with the mayor about it.”

Gipson said the record should be looked at regarding the motion because the aldermen had actually had a meeting in between the time (the Oct. 8 special called meeting by aldermen Merriweather and Shipp).

Gipson said the time has expired to override her veto.

Perry said he will look at the record and bring it up at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

“The next scheduled meeting,” said ciity clerk Jerrica Jones.

“She’s referring to the work season (with TVA),” said Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain.

“The special meeting,” said Jones.

Gipson offered to go get a copy of the meeting announcement.

“The work session,” said Perry.

“Well, I want to hear what Mr. Perry has to say, if it’s the board’s pleasure to hear what he’s got to say,” Teel said.

With that, Gipson said she had to leave the meeting.

Vice-Mayor Shipp presided for the remainder of the meeting.