'Critical' employment ad up for council vote

Advertising for a planning and codes director, as well as a new city manager, will be voted on Thursday by the Shelbyville City Council.

City recorder Betty Lamb told council members during Tuesday's study session that "it is absolutely critical" that the city hire someone to fill the planning and codes position.

"I don't know what the council wants to do about the city manager position, but we certainly need the codes position," she said.

Councilman Al Stephenson said that advertising for the city manager job should occur in January, so that the city would not be paying two people for the same job.

This statement apparently was in reference to the fact that former city manager Ed Craig is receiving continuing pay and benefits as an city employee for six months, after which time he may retire from active employment under Shelbyville's pension plan.

Craig resigned as city manager in October after a request from four of the city's six council members.

However, Stephenson did agree that "we do need to get the planner."

The previous planning and codes director, Kip Green, suddenly resigned on Sept. 26, only stating that he "will be accepting another opportunity."

Craig was supposed to take over Green's duties following his departure, however, the city manager's resignation left the planning and codes department without direction.

Public works director Mark Clanton has been overseeing the day-to-day functions since he is familiar with the city's subdivision regulations.

The council will also consider authorizing Shelbyville Power System to apply for an energy grant.

A $100,000 matching grant is available for the power system from $9.3 million in federal stimulus funds through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

Mayor Wallace Cartwright said that utility officials are looking at installing LED (Light Emitting Diodes) in city parks and replace the lights that are currently on the walking trail, which he says would mean a huge savings in energy.

Traffic lights in Shelbyville are already being changed to LED lights whenever an old one burns out. Cartwright said the LEDs can also be best for dark sections in roadways and intersections.

Other items to be addressed by the council include renewing the city's lease agreement for the Senior Citizens center, allowing Marilyn Ewing to videotape the council's study sessions, accepting bids for rock for city projects, and renewing the city's paving, milling and striping contract.

Cartwright will appoint a replacement for Lola Hithon on the city's planning commission. She is moving to Alabama to accept a job in her hometown.