The Pell City Council agreed to re-advertise the Fire Chief and Parks and Recreation Director positions at Monday evening’s council meeting. The positions have been vacant since April.

“The best thing to do to be able to move on is to repost,” Councilwoman Dot Wood said.

“I think that’s the only option we’ve got right now under the circumstances. I don’t think we have much of a choice but to repost it,” Councilman Donnie Guinn said.

Councilman Greg Gossett recommended appointing the current interim fire chief, Jim Parsons, as the permanent fire chief at the last council meeting. “He does not fit the job description, I understand that,” Gossett said. “It was still misleading to let them fill out an application and give them false hope. I’m sorry that I’m a part of this.”

Both Parsons and interim Parks and Recreation Director Harold “Bubba” Edge have taken courses toward a bachelor’s degree but neither has finished. A bachelor’s degree was one of the requirements for both positions.

Mayor Bill Hereford asked if there was a motion to change the job description or to leave it the way it is. Wood made a motion that the job description not be amended, which Councilman Donnie Todd seconded, leaving the job description as is.

Todd added later in the meeting, “I have never been involved, in this city, or this county, or the city of Birmingham where I worked before, where a person was allowed to apply and interview for a job where they clearly didn’t meet the requirements set forth.”

Hereford said the applicants understood the requirements before they applied and that he understood and appreciated what Todd was saying, however “the law of logic tells you, in advance, you cannot tell someone they can’t apply for a job,” Hereford said.



In other council matters:

* Lance Bell was reapproved as the city’s Municipal Judge.

* Curtis Capps’s application for the Board of Adjustments was approved. Capps beat out Cecil Fomby for the position after a council vote. “They’re both outstanding men that do a lot for the community,” Mayor Bill Hereford said. “We’re very fortunate to have men of that quality in our community.”

* Lara Polk’s application for the Beautification Board was approved.

* A contract with Alabama Power regarding the lighting at the Civic Center ball fields was tabled.

* The solicitation of bids for new mowers for the civic center was approved.

* The refund request from Gorrie/Regan was approved, bringing the time-clock saga one step closer to being finished.

* Resolution 2009-3003 regarding the final plat for The Reserve was approved.

* Resolution 2009-3004 approving application for amendment to certification of Incorporation of the Coosa Valley Water Supply District, Inc was approved.

* Resolution 2009-3005 was approved reappointing Councilman Greg Gossett as the Director of the Coosa Valley Water Supply District, Inc.