Dateline: September 4, 2003
City hires Shields to be new Burton librarian
By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise
Jerri
Shields was hired as the new director of the Burton Memorial Library when
the Clarendon Board of Aldermen met in regular session last Tuesday.
City
officials looked over several applications for the position before
selecting Shields, who was already employed as an assistant at the library
and has been in charge there since the July departure of Librarian Carolyn
Blackerby.
Blackerby
resigned her post after the city denied her request that her salary and
the salaries of those working under her be raised. Aldermen at the time
urged her to stay on, saying they couldn’t consider such a request until
the city adopts a new budget.
Aldermen
voted 4-0-1 in favor of hiring Shields. Alderman Michael Tibbets
abstained, saying he supports Shields but wanted to interview other
applicants as well.
In
other city business, the board considered a revised franchise ordinance
with GreenLight Gas. City officials are seeking to receive the municipal
franchise fees quarterly rather than annually. The total would be the same
for the year.
GreenLight,
in return, wanted to extend the agreement, which now has 18 years
remaining, by seven years and offered to give the city a three percent
franchise fee instead of the current two percent.
But
aldermen felt the contract period was long enough as it is and noted that
an increase in franchise fees would come straight from local customers.
The ordinance was unanimously rejected.
The
board also discussed the 2003-04 municipal budget and set September 3 as
the date for a budget workshop.
In
the city administrator’s report, Sean Pate discussed what he learned at
a grant-writing workshop he attended recently in Austin. There are several
grant opportunities that he will be looking into as a result of the
conference. Pate also reported that the city had received a 20’ x 300’
easement to run utilities to the new motel and any other new businesses
that might open up on adjacent lots.