By David Meade
During the business portion of their regular meeting Monday, Williamston Town Council elected a mayor pro tem, approved second reading on an election ordinance, made two appointments and approved annexation of property on Anderson Drive.
Council unanimously approved first reading on a request to annex property located at 1503 Anderson Drive. The property is 1.03 acres bordered by Foster Road and Hwy. 20 Connector and is owned by Martha D. Harvell, Karen D. Golden and Judy D. Saxon. Councilman David Harvell recused himself from the vote due to his wife being a co-owner of the property.
A public hearing and second reading must be held on the annexation and it will also have to be approved by the U. S. Department of Justice.
Council unanimously elected Otis Scott to serve as the Mayor Pro Tem. Scott was elected to serve as the Ward Four Councilman in the November election and is serving his second term as a member of council. “I’ll do my best,” Scott said.
Council approved second reading on an election ordinance authorizing a special election on April 2 to fill the Ward 2 seat vacancy. The seat became open when Mack Durham took over as mayor.
Council also approved a proclamation designating February as Black History Month in Williamston. Members of the MLK memorial project were presented copies of the proclamation.
Kelley Peden was appointed to the town election commission. Peden replaces Rocky Burgess who resigned to run for the vacant Ward 2 seat on council.
Mayor Mack Durham and town employee David Rogers were unanimously approved to serve as town representatives on the Anderson Joint Regional Water System Board.
During public concerns, Mayor Durham said a recent audit determined that town employees jailer/dispatchers who worked in the Williamston Police Deparment did not fall under guidelines for police officer compensation and were eligible for overtime compensation.
The mayor said the town is reviewing pay records over a two year period to determine who was eligible during the time. In an effort to cut expenses, the town had implemented a “no overtime policy” for police officers resulting in a two week pay period that alternated 24 hours and 60 hours, according to Durham.
The discrepancy was discovered during meetings the Appalachian Council of Governments representatives in January. The town’s labor attorney has also been consulted, the Mayor said.
