Council asks for legal opinion on board of health appointment
Published 12:00 am Friday, November 28, 2003
Can a sitting township clerk also be a member of the Ironton City Health board?
That's the question that some members of the Ironton City Council mulled over Monday evening before turning the matter over to the city solicitor's office.
Mayor Bob Cleary had recommended that Alice Brown be appointed to fill the rest of Connie Lowe's term that expires in
2007, Dr. Jim Milleson be appointed to a 5-year term that ends in 2008 and Tyler Walters be appointed to fill the rest of Dan Jones' unexpired term ending in 2006.
Councilman Richard Price asked if Walters could serve on the board because he was elected earlier this month as the Upper Township clerk.
"This is nothing personal," Price said. "I just don't want to make a mistake. Is this a conflict of interest?"
Price said he was willing to go ahead and confirm the other two appointments, Milleson and Brown, and offered a motion to do so, but Councilman John Elam moved to table the issue and Councilman Robert Lipker seconded that motion.
"That duty should come to the new mayor. He has to work with them for four years," Lipker said.
Councilman Jim Tordiff agreed.
"It's difficult for a new mayor to put his team together. His hands are tied in that he is asked to accept current department heads (from the previous administration)."
Price said he understood Lipker's thought, but hated to lose two very qualified people.
Fellow council members congratulated Lipker on his years of service to the community. Lipker chose not to run for reelection this year. Lipker accepted their expression of gratitude and said he had enjoyed his tenure in office. He urged them to stay united in the effort to improve the city's economy.
"We've tried out best to promote the city. We don't always agree on everything, but we've always tried to work together as a team. And if you keep on trying to work together as a team, we'll come out of this."