Beverly

THOMASVILLE — After heated debate among Thomasville City Council members, council members-elect and residents attending the Monday night council meeting, the governing body voted 3-2 to approve appointments and reappointments to city boards.

At a council workshop prior to the meeting, Mayor Greg Hobbs questioned the current status of appointments. 

“All of these terms end Dec. 31,” responded Steve Sykes, city manager/utilities superintendent.

Council member-elect David Hufstetler said that if the appointments were approved now, some of the appointed individuals would serve for several years after the new council is seated.

“Every single person on this council has been replaced by somebody at some point in time,” interjected Max Beverly, who lost his seat to Hufstetler in the November general election.

Reiterating his request, Hufstetler said, “I will respect whatever decision you guys make.”

The discussion continued at the regularly scheduled council meeting after the workshop. When the overflow crowd attending the workshop and meeting was beyond council chambers’ capacity, the meeting was moved upstairs to the municipal auditorium.

Sykes told the council he provided members with a list of expiring appointments a month ago.

Council member Terry Scott made a motion to extend council action until Jan. 31. The mayor provided the second to Scott’s motion “so we can have a discussion.”

With new council members to be seated, it would be better to wait on appointment action, Scott said.

“These are not appointments. They are reappointments,” Hobbs said.

A 2018 board appointments list shows some are appointments. Some are reappointments.

The boards are:

• Airport Advisory Board

• Architectural and Zoning Appeals Board

• Building Contractors Examining Board

• Destination Thomasville Tourism Authority

• Downtown Development Authority

• Historic Preservation Commission Board

• Housing Authority

• Main Street Advisory Board

• Planning and Zoning

• Southwest Georgia Regional Commission

• Thomasville/Thomas County Recreation Advisory Board

• Tree and Landscape

Alston Watt addressed the council, acknowledging Hufstetler’s comments and a change in council makeup.

“People serve on these committees because they are dedicated to serve,” Watt told the council.

Hufstetler, noting the number of boards listed, said, “I’m not suggesting there will be a change.”

Tyree Brown said he understood Watt’s concerns about continuity, but the majority of city voting precincts cast ballots for a change in council members.

In response to a comment by Elizabeth Young, the mayor said some people do not approach the council for fear of being intimidated, adding that he realizes some people are disappointed in election results.

Sharon Edwards, who heads a local homeless coalition, said that if more information about city boards were made available, people would want to serve.

Scott’s motion and the second vanished among discussion comments.

Beverly, saying it is the council’s responsibility to make board appointments, made a motion to approve appointments and reappointments.

Beverly, Council member Jay Flowers and by at-large Council member Don Sims, who was defeated by Todd Mobley in last week’s runoff election, voted in favor of the motion.

The mayor and Scott voted against Beverly’s motion.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820