Flomaton Councilman Buster Crapps has repeated the phrase that it is the council's responsibility to look out for the money and it's the mayor's responsibility to manage the employees. He's said it in several different ways, but he's been consistent in saying the mayor has the responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the town and it's the council's responsibility to make sure they have enough money to pay for it.
State law and town charters spell out the responsibilities of the mayor and council. Some councils are different and have different charters or ordinances.
As we understand the charter for the town of Flomaton in dealing with employees, especially department heads, it's up to the mayor to bring a name before the council and for the council to vote yes or no. It's the mayor's responsibility to bring a name and it's the council's responsibility to vote.
Monday night, Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., brought the name of Jamie Young to the council table as his recommendation as the new town clerk to replace Shila Carter, who had resigned.
The council voted 4-0-1 to approve Young with Crapps abstaining from voting. Although there were issues over who should conduct the interviews, it's still up to the mayor to bring a name for a yea or nay vote by the council.
We don't understand Crapps abstaining from voting. There was no conflict of interest as far as we can tell. Councilman Jim Johnson abstains in matters concerning Escambia County Bank because his wife works there. We understand that.
Crapps likes to talk about the responsibilities of the mayor and council and we feel it was his responsibility to either vote yes or no on Mayor Dewey Bondurant's recommendation of Young as the town clerk.
By abstaining, Crapps let the people of his district down and didn't live up to his responsibility as a council member.
