Summit officials accepted the resignation of the town’s building inspector but held off on making moves to hire a part-time replacement, instead pondering whether the town’s part-time zoning administrator should take over the work or if zoning and inspections requires two full-time employees.
Wayne Parker’s resignation is effective Feb. 15.
The board voted down the motion to advertise for a new building inspector 3-1. Councilman Marcus Pittman was the only councilman who supported it.
Instead of making a motion to advertise for a replacement, Councilman Julius Nash suggested giving zoning administrator Gerald Alexander both positions.
“I just think it would be better for a full-time position rather than three days a week, four hours a day,” he said.
Mayor Percy Robinson noted that Parker used to do both jobs but became overwhelmed, which is why Alexander came on board.
“I will tell you the reason why we split it is because it’s a lot of work,” Robinson said, adding that having two different employees would promote continuity if one was absent.
Councilman Joe Lewis recalled the decision to hire Alexander.
“The reason we chose those to individuals was because of that workload,” Lewis said.
“If it’s that busy then we need to look at hiring two full-time people,” Nash said. “I talked to contractors who said they were having problems getting permits.”
Nash then suggested making both positions full-time.
“We need to look at full-time positions for this. … We need to make it readily available for contractors to get permits for lights, for gas, for electrical,” he said.
Councilman Chris Daniels noted that Summit hired Alexander to train for Parker’s job.
However, Robinson said Alexander was, in fact, hired to give Parker some relief.
“It was taking a toll on him,” the mayor said.
“You need a building inspector and zoning administrator and you need to divide them,” Robinson said. “That’s my position.”
Daniels said he asked clerks to present figures on what the cost difference would be between hiring two part-time employees versus one full-time employee.”
He also asked if the town’s book of zoning ordinances is up to date.
“No, it’s not,” Robinson said.
In a related matter, the council voted to pay Alexander and Parker every two weeks instead of monthly and for them to use the time clock in the police station in order to keep track of their hours.
In other business, the council:
• Set new terms for the housing authority and planning commission. According to the new arrangement, Stan McMorris’ term on the housing commission ends in March of this year, while Ray Smith’s ends March 2023, Janice Gooden’s ends in March 2024 and Lorraine Gayden’s ends in March 2025. Dr. Tom Carey’s term on the planning commission ends this March, while Michael Wimberly’s ends in March 2023, Evelyn Williamson’s ends March 2024, Rusty Covington’s ends March 2025 and Ronesia Robinson’s ends March 2026.
• Approved business licenses for Aspire Rehab Group, LTD Food service and Market Max.
• Approved travel for the council and court clerk Suzonne Perkins to attend the Mississippi Municipal League’s annual conference in Jun and for the mayor and council to attend the MBCLEO conference in Biloxi in June.
• Agreed to place a legal ad for the upcoming Community Development Block Grant application.
• Approved the final payment to Greenbriar Digging for work to install fire hydrants and water lines along Sid Nash Road for $16,400.
• Approved a request at Nash’s recommendation to change smartphone plans to Smartphone Unlimited.
• Authorized Robinson to sign close out documents for the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Grant program and state bond money for the Sid Nash Road project.
• Authorized Robinson to sign an oil lease with Resource Acquisition Services LLC.
• Approved the payment of $2,750 to Reid Abatement for removing asbestos at the old pump house on Peters Street.
• Agreed to publish a notice informing residents of work that will be done at Greenlawn Cemetery. “It’s something that will protect us,” Daniels said. “We won’t touch any monuments. We won’t touch any grave stones or tomb stones, if you will, during this project of filling sunken graves in.”
• Tabled a motion to set salaries for the town clerk and deputy town clerk until after prospective candidates could be interviewed.
