Dateline: January 22, 2004

City holds hearing on re-zoning issue

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Only one person showed up to speak at a public hearing held by the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday as the city took the first step in changing its zoning rules.

Sue Leeper, who is considering building an assisted living center here, spoke in favor of changing the zoning rules.

Leeper wants to build a facility on three lots near her home, but the land in question falls in the R1 residential zone, which does not allow an assisted living center.

“I’ve worked in the medical field for a long time,” she said, “and I know what steps have to be taken in order to do this. The first step is to get the zoning changed.”

Leeper’s plans include a 16-bed facility similar to an apartment complex and much like the assisted living center currently in Claude. Staff would help people living in the facility with their every need, including controlling their medication. All residents of the facility would have to be mobile to live there; and if that situation changes, the resident in question would have to move to a nursing home facility.

Alderman Janice Knorpp asked if the property at Seventh and Taylor is located in a flood zone. Leeper responded that it was on the edge of the zone and may need to be built up to prevent flooding.

Leeper encouraged the city to change its zoning rules, saying, “There is a definite need for this here.”

Last year, aldermen tried to grant Leeper a zoning variance for her facility but later had to rescind that motion after being told by legal counsel that that action was improper.

The aldermen will hold a second public hearing on the proposed zoning changes when they meet next week.

In other city business, the aldermen discussed the responsibilities and authority of City Administrator Sean Pate, specifically if his office should have the authority to hire and fire with appeal to the board.

Mayor Tex Selvidge said that there should never be a case where individual aldermen tell a city employee how to do his job and said that direction should come from the administrator.

Alderman Bobbie Kidd spoke in favor of expanding Pate’s authority.

“I think if a guy hires, he ought to be able to fire,” Kidd said. “We ought to have a clear line of command.”

But Alderman Michael Tibbets objected to granting more power to Pate.

“It is my position that we should keep authority in elected officials,” Tibbets said.

“You won’t lose that,” Kidd responded. “And I think this would be better for the city and better for the council. Maybe we could move forward and not concentrate on nitpicking.”

Tibbets moved to leave the responsibility to hire and fire with the Board of Aldermen. There was no second.

Kidd moved, seconded by Knorpp, to give the city administrator the power to hire and fire and to set salaries within the constraints of the budget.

“I would caution the council against voting for this motion as it constitutes the de facto establishment of a manager/council form of government,” Tibbets said.

Other aldermen strongly disagreed with Tibbets’ assertion, and the board approved the motion, 3-1.

Also at last week’s meeting, Debra Hill, Anita Aaron, and Brenda Hill demonstrated the Associated Ambulance Authority’s new Evac-U-Splint, which was purchased with money donated by the city and other contributors. The device fully conforms to the contours of the body to allow patients, such as those with osteoporosis, to be transported in a comfortable manner.

Administrator Pate reported on activities around the city. He reported attending a meeting for the new Panhandle Revenue Recovery Association, where he was elected to the board. He also discussed the possibility of purchasing a used truck from Greenbelt Water Authority to replace a dilapidated vehicle used by the animal control workers. Tibbets said it should be put in next year’s budget.