Johnson
The Century Town Council Monday night swore in re-elected council member Sandra McMurray Jackson, making a forum, then nominated and voted in two interim council members, Alicia Johnson and Shelisa Abraham, before they nominated and voted Luis Gomez and Dynette Lewis to remain president and vice-president. Seat 3 was left unfilled when Council Member Leonard White resigned before his term expired. Seat 4 became vacant when Councilman James Smith's term expired and no one, including Smith, ran for it in the last election. "This is a unique situation," said Luis Gomez. "Never before in Century has this occurred. It's necessary, it's politics in its rarest form." The two interim council members will serve until a special election can be held, around early March, according to Town Clerk Leslie Howington. The special election, according to the town charter, must be held no sooner than 30 days and no later than 60 days following the occurrence of a vacancy. Howington is working with Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford to finalize the Special Election and a formal announcement will be made. Five applicants, Corneda Pifer, Johnson, Edward Hammond, Abraham and Michelle Dixon, threw their hats in the ring for the seats. Council member Jackson nominated and made a motion to appoint Hammond for council seat 3. There was not a second, so the motion died. Council member Lewis nominated and made a motion to appoint Abraham. Gomez seconded the motion. All voted yes. Council Gomez nominated and made a motion to appoint Johnson, which was seconded by Jackson. All voted yes. Abraham was sworn in by Howington. Johnson was present on the phone but was not there to be sworn in. Johnson will be sworn in at the next council meeting. The council next nominated and voted council president and vice president. Lewis nominated Gomez for president and Jackson seconded the motion. The vote carried unanimously. Jackson nominated Lewis, which was seconded by Council member Abraham. The motion carried unanimously. In other business, the council: -Approved to authorize Mayor Ben Boutwell to sign an amendment to an agreement for Century well and water plant to change the grant's expiration date to Sept. 30, 2024 and revise the grant work plan -Approved awarding two base bids in the town's phase I wastewater improvements to Talcon group for their low bid of $943,900.00 depending upon the Department of Economic Opportunity's clearance of the contractor.
The Century Town Council Monday night swore in re-elected council member Sandra McMurray Jackson, making a forum, then nominated and voted in two interim council members, Alicia Johnson and Shelisa Abraham, before they nominated and voted Luis Gomez and Dynette Lewis to remain president and vice-president.
Seat 3 was left unfilled when Council Member Leonard White resigned before his term expired. Seat 4 became vacant when Councilman James Smith's term expired and no one, including Smith, ran for it in the last election.
"This is a unique situation," said Luis Gomez. "Never before in Century has this occurred. It's necessary, it's politics in its rarest form."
The two interim council members will serve until a special election can be held, around early March, according to Town Clerk Leslie Howington. The special election, according to the town charter, must be held no sooner than 30 days and no later than 60 days following the occurrence of a vacancy. Howington is working with Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford to finalize the Special Election and a formal announcement will be made.
Five applicants, Corneda Pifer, Johnson, Edward Hammond, Abraham and Michelle Dixon, threw their hats in the ring for the seats.
Council member Jackson nominated and made a motion to appoint Hammond for council seat 3. There was not a second, so the motion died.
Council member Lewis nominated and made a motion to appoint Abraham. Gomez seconded the motion. All voted yes.
Council Gomez nominated and made a motion to appoint Johnson, which was seconded by Jackson. All voted yes.
Abraham was sworn in by Howington. Johnson was present on the phone but was not there to be sworn in. Johnson will be sworn in at the next council meeting.
The council next nominated and voted council president and vice president.
Lewis nominated Gomez for president and Jackson seconded the motion. The vote carried unanimously.
Jackson nominated Lewis, which was seconded by Council member Abraham. The motion carried unanimously.
In other business, the council:
-Approved to authorize Mayor Ben Boutwell to sign an amendment to an agreement for Century well and water plant to change the grant's expiration date to Sept. 30, 2024 and revise the grant work plan
-Approved awarding two base bids in the town's phase I wastewater improvements to Talcon group for their low bid of $943,900.00 depending upon the Department of Economic Opportunity's clearance of the contractor.
