Council declares vacancy

GARFIELD — With three Council members present, several motions were defeated as votes were 2-1 until the vote for accepting the resignation of council member Malania Carter was presented and Mayor Gary Blackburn cast the deciding vote.

Carter tendered her resignation last month; she was not present Tuesday, May 10. Action on her resignation was late on the agenda.

“Alderman Carter came by my residence with her resignation,” alderman Bill Matthew said. “I was deeply troubled by this. She had been here 11 and a half years.”

Matthew said he depended on Carter’s experience and expertise and begged her to stay on the Council. He voted against accepting her resignation. Aldermen Katherine Shook and Dale

Watkins voted to accept it.

A vacancy was declared and city officials agreed to accept applications to fill the vacancy.

Mayor Gary Blackburn asked city attorney Kendon Underwood what constituted a majority in approving items. Underwood told city officials that the mayor may vote to pass but not to reject an issue.

Underwood said it would take three votes to approve.

“We only have three,” Shook said, noting that Carter had resigned. The attorney noted that prior to Carter’s resignation being accepted, it took three votes on the four-member council to consitute a majority.

Shook presented ordinances for consideration; they were defeated with Shook and Matthew voting for and Watkins voting against.

Items on the agenda for consideration included review the Street Repair ordinance, the TAP grant application, the Certificate of Occupancy process and a vicious dog ordinance.

The mayor said he would contact Benton County for a copy of how the county handles vicious dogs and said he would have the issue on next month’s meeting.

Overturning the mayor’s veto of last month’s ordinance approving a water rate increase was defeated without three votes in favor of the override.