Monticello Council Postpones Decision

Monticello City Council members agreed to postpone their decision on the final termination of city employee Roger Minter just after midnight on Tuesday, after a more than four hour hearing during their regular meeting.

Mr. Minter was terminated from his water and sewer superintendent position with the city June 13, 2012. After learning that he must appeal his termination to the City Manager Bob Schwartz, who originally terminated Mr. Minter, he made a plea to the council that the policy (procedure) be changed that he go before the council and the final decision be ultimately theirs.

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The meeting of the council went along with a typical agenda rather quickly then city staff readjusted the meeting room for the hearing to separate the two sides.

There were approximately 45 people in attendance for the appeal and it was run much like a civil court hearing.

The city was represented by Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) attorney, Douglas Duerr. Mr. Minter was counseled by Mollie Pompey, former city council member and Jacqueline Smith, also a past city council member and currently a city employee in the Monticello Police Department.

Both sides of the bench got to present an opening statement, present and question witnesses, and end with closing arguments. Weymon Cody, Henry Greene, Marty Roper, and Joseph McElheney were called as witnesses. Mr. Minter and Mr. Schwartz also each took the stand to answer questions from council.

Both sides presented their cases, both for and against the termination. The council listened to both sides and went into closed session for discussion on the termination just before midnight.

Once back in open meeting, council members voted to postpone their decision until next Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. and they will meet in the third floor meeting room.

In the beginning of the meeting, sidewalk repairs were discussed as the council members were asked to review the map presented by Robert Jordan, City Engineer, and to inform him of any additional concerns.

Mr. Schwartz told the council that he could move forward with the monies received thus far, which began coming in around May.

Councilman Randy Strozier asked Mr. Schwartz, “are you going to start on the worst places in the sidewalks first?”

Mr. Schwartz replied, “absolutely.”

Mayor Pro-tem Bobby Jacobs asked, “with the bids, could we please pay close attention to those local firms. I’d like to spend money locally.”

The vote to begin bidding the sidewalk jobs passed unanimously.