City administrator duties finalized

After arguing over the wording and duties of McMinnville?s next city administrator for the last month, the discussion is finally over.

There have been several areas of debate and concern, including whether the city administrator should have the power to fire city department heads. However, the city administrator will retain the right to do this.

Only one change took any control away from the position, and that is more a matter of wording than anything else. Now, the city administrator ?may? speak at committee meetings instead of ?shall? speak.

The next city administrator must now ask the chairperson of a committee to be recognized before he or she speaks.

The vote on the new city administrator duties ended in a 2-2 tie with Vice Mayor Patti Nunley and Alderman Jimmy Haley voting against the proposed duties. Nunley has pushed for the city administrator to have less power.

Aldermen Rick Barnes and Michael Chrisawn voted to approve the new job description.

With a 2-2 tie, the deciding vote came down to Mayor Royce Davenport, who voted for the ordinance and added, ?The motion barely carries.?

Aldermen Bobby Kirby and Donald Hillis were absent.

The ordinance is now in effect as this was its second and final reading. A new city administrator can now be sought.