Council unhappy over HRB firings; mayor withdraws one appointee
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, 11:45 p.m. — Mayor John Royalty’s removal of two members of the Historic Review Board prompted angry responses from members of the Bardstown City Council who said they were unaware of the actions until Tuesday’s meeting.
Some of the Bardstown City Council members were unhappy to learn Tuesday night of the removal of chairman Don Parrish and Beth Hawkins from the Historic Review Board.
Royalty removed former board members Beth Hawkins and Don Parrish for violations of the HRB bylaws — Hawkins for too many absences, and Parrish for refusing to read the mayor’s letter removing Hawkins at the HRB’s October meeting.
“I feel like we were left out — I mean, I just found out these people got fired and were fired some time ago,” Councilman Fred Hagan told the mayor.
The council approves the mayor’s appointments to the HRB, and it stands to reason that the council should also have input or communication when those appointments are terminated, which could have simply been a document explaining why both were removed.
“I don’t like something getting pushed under my nose as soon as I get here,” Hagan told the mayor.
Councilman Francis Lydian agreed with Hagan, stating that the firings were dumped in the council’s laps Tuesday night.
“Maybe we need to table this, because this is news to me,” Lydian said.
City Attorney Tim Butler warned the council that delaying filling the appointments would leave the five-person HRB with only three members.
Councilman Bobby Simpson questioned the usefulness of delaying making appointments to fill the HRB vacancies.
Hagan made a motion to table both HRB appointments, but Councilman Bobby Simpson asked what benefit there was in delaying them.
Hagan said it wasn’t right for the council to not find out about the firings until the night of the council meeting.
“We should know that they were fired and why they were fired,” he said.
Royalty told the council the agenda and related documents were uploaded to their iPads last Wednesday. It is the council’s job to read the agenda and then call City Hall if they have questions. Failing to do so means they arrive unprepared.
“All I’m saying is read your agenda before Tuesday and you can call me and ask questions,” he said.
Butler told the council that appointments to boards like the HRB are the mayor’s to make and — if necessary — to rescind for cause.
If the chairman doesn’t follow the board’s bylaws, that is reason to remove him or her, Butler said. Those who have been removed from appointments can appeal the action in Nelson Circuit Court.
ONE APPROVED, ONE WITHDRAWN. After additional discussion, the council approved appointment Lee Evans to fill Beth Hawkins’ unexpired term on the HRB, which runs through Jan. 10, 2016.
City Attorney Tim Butler told the council the mayor is the individual responsible for making appointments to city boards like the HRB.
But the council balked on approving Royalty’s appointment of local contractor Keith West to replace Don Parrish on the HRB.
Hagan said he saw possible conflicts of interest, both real and perceived, because West is a contractor who does a lot of work in Bardstown’s historic district.
“The guy is knowledgable, but I think it would be better to have someone who does not do work in the district,” he said.
When asked about possible conflicts of interest, Butler told the council that if appointed, West would have to recuse himself from voting on jobs he was working on, jobs he may have bid on but lost, as well as jobs using subcontractors he used on a regular basis in order to avoid an appearance of a conflict of interest.
Butler said West’s conflicts of interest could affect a significant number of applications before the HRB, leaving four members to decide.
After more discussion about possible conflicts of interest, Royalty withdrew West’s name for the appointment and said he would select another HRB candidate.
Councilman Francis Lydian joined other members of the council in expressing their appreciation for the contributions by Marlin Howard, former chief of the Bardstown Fire Department.
HOWARD THANKED FOR SERVICE. Before meeting concluded, several council members took a moment to express their appreciate to former Bardstown Fire Chief Marlin Howard, who attended the meeting with his wife, Jan.
Councilwoman Kecia Copeland said she appreciated Howard’s professionalism as chief, and the compassion he showed in his work with fire victims. She praised Howard for being accessible when she had questions about the fire department.
Councilmen Roland Williams and Francis Lydian also expressed their thanks for Howard’s service to the community.
Royalty also took a moment to thank Howard “professionally and personally” for his work with the city.
In other business, the council:
— approved final reading of an ordinance creating a code enforcement board. The board will be in charge of enforcement actions for violations of the city’s ordinances.
— approved the Design Review Board recommendation for a 12,000-square-foot office/warehouse/retail building by QSI Inc. for Filiatreau Lane.
NEXT UP. The council will meet next on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, in the council chambers next to the rec center on Xavier Drive.
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