City’s new Mayor Pro Tem
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Acting Mayor Shawn Lassiter’s first Atmore City Council meeting, held Monday, June 9, went smoothly and provided a preview of things to come.
Lassiter, who vowed that most meetings would be different, especially in that they would last longer than those in the past and would feature more discussion, presided over a council session that continued for about three times the average length (about 5 minutes) that had become standard for council meetings.
The most important item on the agenda was approval of a resolution to appoint District 2’s Jerome Webster as Mayor Pro Tempore (or Mayor Pro Tem), a position Lassiter held before replacing Jim Staff, who retired at the end of May, as the city’s chief executive officer. The post, technically the same as vice mayor, makes Webster the temporary replacement for Lassiter if the mayor is absent or unable to perform his duties.
There was no discussion from the council table, and the last agenda item had been disposed of before Municipal Court Judge Karean Reynolds administered the oath of office to the two-term councilman.
The meeting’s biggest difference, which Lassiter promised would be a part of each council meeting during his tenure as mayor, came in reports from Police Chief Chuck Brooks and Streets & Sanitation Director Calvin Grace. (Fire Chief Ron Peebles, who was also scheduled to provide an update, was unable to attend due to the death of his brother.)
Brooks spoke first, providing statistics for the month of May that showed city officers responded to 2,374 calls during the month just past and made 493 traffic stops that resulted in 81 citations and “a lot of verbal and written warnings.”
The city’s top cop also pointed out that the department currently has 30 officers, a number he hopes to increase by 6 in the near future. He reported that a recently awarded grant will pay for two new officers.
Grace told council members his crews were working to keep storm drains and ditches clear of debris, that numerous faded or missing street signs had been recently replaced, and that the city’s new fuel station will be online at some time in July.
In other action taken during the meeting, council members:
*Approved a resolution naming the baseball fields at Tom Byrne Park, “Murray Johnson Baseball Complex.”
*Approved a request by Sandra Gray to use Houston Avery Park from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on June 14.