How Not To Run City Business

Vincent, Alabama May 18, 2010 7:00 pm City Council Meeting

A vacancy has opened up on the Industrial Board that needs to be filled. Motion was made by Council member Ralph Kimble that the Council receive resumes and credentials for the position.

Silence from the table and all members including the Mayor.

"Motion failed" says the Mayor.

From Council person Mary Lee Reynolds; "We all know the candidates and do not need to see any credentials because we know them."

From Council member Larry King in response to a question from Councilman Ralph Kimble on how Mr. King determines who is best qualified in absence of a resume: "I get on the phone and start talking to people."

From Mayor Ray McAllister to Councilman Ralph Kimble on why John McCutcheon's name was excluded from the list: "You didn't have his name submitted in time." Ralph Kimble replies that he did and did not know there was a time limit.
Mayor McAllister repeats himself and admonishes Mr. Kimble telling him; "You better get your facts straight."

John McCutcheon has experience exceeding any present members and those on the list for consideration now, they know he is the best qualified person. He is against the quarry and will not rubber stamp the issues brought before the board. He will do what is in the best interest of the city and fulfill his responsibilities with integrity.

That is enough to get him disqualified from even being considered for the Industrial Board.

We called Calera and Alabaster to ask for their procedures in filling board vacancies of any type. The following is their procedure:

"For any vacancies on any of our boards, we require resumes to be submitted. The Mayor and the Council review these resumes and vote on who they feel is the most qualified candidate based on their experience."

The Vincent City Hall prefers to handle the same issue by appointing the individual "we all know."

With a huge quarry proposed for our area, the community deserves the best qualified individual on the Industrial Board. Not candidates with the backgrounds of running a bed and breakfast and former small security company operators who have no knowledge of industrial engineering and blasting.

Mr. McCutcheon does have this knowledge and experience.

Yet he is not even considered for the position, and purposefully excluded from the list based on a time limit arbitrarily imposed by the Mayor, that was not even mentioned when the announcement of this vacancy was made.

The hap hazard handling of city business, cronyism on full display at every level, lack of due diligence and continued palpable arrogance by city officials is enough of a reason to deny this quarry and initiate immediate recall proceedings.

They can expect a certified letter on this copied to the media shortly.