GRAVETTE — An hourlong executive session involving what Gravette Mayor Bill Howard termed a “personnel matter” resulted in no decision at a special meeting of the Gravette City Council Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
No names were mentioned by the mayor or any Council member before or after the meeting but Howard later confirmed it involved his recent “firing” of the city director of public service by eliminating that position on July 2 and the subsequent city council’s overriding of his action at that body’s regular meeting Thursday, July 22.
Earnest Hartley, who held the director’s position, appealed the mayor’s action which resulted in the Council’s 5-1 vote overriding the mayor’s decision. Voting for the override were council members Terry King, Kurt Maddox, Chris Beller, Brent Cannon and Forrest White. Opposing the action was alderman Byron Warren.
The special meeting Wednesday also involved other personnel, the mayor told the Eagle Observer.
Executive Session Action
The Council immediately went into executive session and returned at 6:29 when Mayor Howard announced, “No action was taken at this time.”
All Council members were present with the exception of Alderman Forrest White.
During the executive session, another city employee, Allyson Ransom, was called — apparently — to address the council members. City attorney Tom Smith also was admitted to the session for a few minutes. Hartley, who was present in the audience, was not called into the closed meeting.
Following the adjournment, several of the 35-40 persons attending waited outside the city hall.
Hartley, who apparently is still a city employee, was philosophical about the event. He expressed satisfaction that he had received community support, including the presentation of a petition and appearances by numerous persons at the meeting at which the mayor’s original action was overridden.
“Sometimes it’s good to get a town stirred up,” he said. “I’m just sorry I’m at the center of it.”
In addition to holding the city service director position, Hartley has been the licensed operator for the Gravette water and sewer department for more than 10 years.