Sulphur Springs mayor reinstated once again

! Acting mayor vetoes council decision to accept resignation letter, Mayor Bobby Simon reinstated to post at special meeting.

In an unheard of move, Sulphur Springs’ acting mayor, Alice Peck, vetoed a council resolution to accept the resignation of Sulphur Springs mayor, Bobby Simon, and Simon was reinstated in a special meeting.

A special council meeting was held Sept. 18 to reinstate Mayor Simon to the position. The council voted 4 to 1 in favor of Peck’s veto of the council’s acceptance of Simon’s resignation letter.

Peck said her reason for the veto was that she had not found anyone qualified in Sulphur Springs at this time to fill the mayor’s post, even though some reportedly sought to apply.

Councilman Greg Barber said he called the Arkansas Municipal League and talked to a lawyer there who said this is the first time in Arkansas history an acting mayor vetoed a mayor’s resignation letter that the council had approved and accepted, let alone having a mayor resign four times and be reinstated each time.

Questions have been raised on the legality of the vote since it was not held at the next regular meeting but at a special meeting.

News, Pages 1 on 10/02/2013