City continues to debate administrator position

Just when you think it?s over, the debate about McMinnville?s city administrator position has reared its ugly head once again, this time at the latest Finance Committee meeting.

Vice Mayor Patti Nunley summed up everyone?s feelings by saying, ?We are having some problems with this folks, so here we are again.?

In this instance, however, a couple of changes were made in the job description. Now, the city administrator ?may? be heard and the wording ?elected members of the city? will be changed to ?city board.?

Things that were not changed included the city administrator?s authority to fire department heads which sparked even more discussion on that subject.

?Anyone in the position who has power will not take firing someone lightly,? said committee member Michael Chrisawn. ?If not, we haven?t done our jobs properly. Let?s let the city administrator do the job he is hired to do.?

The last five years still has some council members hesitant.
?It has happened before,? said Nunley. ?I hope it doesn?t happen again. The city administrator works for this board. If you get someone who does their job and comes in here and asks for someone to be removed, I don?t think we would have a problem. Informing this board first will keep someone from acting in the heat of the moment.?

In the end, Nunley still voted no to the astonishment of the other Finance Committee members with one warning, ?That won?t be the last no you hear out of me.?

Joining Nunley in her stance was Jimmy Haley, who also voted against the ordinance.