Cairo council refuses to vote on appointees

~ The new city attorney and city clerk will take their posts on a temporary basis.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mayor Paul Farris introduced his two latest appointees to the city council Tuesday evening but couldn't persuade the members to approve them.

Council members who spoke after Farris introduced each of the new city employees gave varying reasons for being unwilling to vote on the appointments. For Councilwoman Carolyn Ponting, it was because she didn't know either person.

For Councilwoman Linda Jackson, a determined opponent of Farris, the reason was political -- she supports a wrongful termination lawsuit by the city clerk, treasurer, attorney and other top officials fired by Farris when he took office in 2003.

After failing to receive any support on the council, Farris announced each of the new appointees would take their posts on a temporary basis. All department heads named by Farris since he took office have been temporary appointments.

Patrick Cox of Anna, Ill., is the new city attorney, receiving $125 an hour as part of a base salary of $1,500 per month and a retainer of $7,333 per month. The pay rates were disclosed when council members received a copy of Cox's contract after the meeting.

Nancy Philipper is the new clerk, replacing fired clerk Debran Sudduth. Sudduth, who had been loyal to Farris, was ousted after Farris learned the clerk directed city employees to mow his yard.

The council meeting was relatively quiet as Farris guided members through an agenda without allowing council members to stray. Members voted on only one item -- a mowing contract for three city park sites.

And even that contract must be revisited, Ponting said after the meeting. The cost agreed by the council, $3,546, was not what the winning bidder was seeking, she said. Farris apparently misread the bids, she said.

Other items, from approval of minutes at past meetings to acceptance of a grant for the police department, were ignored by council members.

As Farris moved through the agenda, he repeatedly turned down requests from council members for a chance to speak on issues not included in the list. In response, council members declined suggestions from Cox that they form committees to work on a budget for the upcoming year.

The council will take care of the budget when it sees fit, Councilwoman Linda Jackson said. "It has always gotten done when it needs to be done."

The final item of business generated the most discussion, a proposal to push for the demolition of the crumbling Elmwood School. The building is a hazard, but some residents are stacking and selling its bricks, Cox said. Approximately 17,000 bricks, which Cox said have a value of 10 to 25 cents each, have been stacked on pallets on the school grounds.

Councilman Elbert "Bo" Purchase questioned whether it was fair to deny the people who worked to stack the bricks a share of the proceeds.

"Why did we wait for the man to stack 17,000 bricks before we stopped him?" Purchase asked.

But Farris said the issue isn't who has done the work but that the structure is dangerous and, since it is owned by the city, a source of a potential lawsuit if someone is hurt on the grounds.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126