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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

While the Hayneville Town Council remained deadlocked on organizational matters and resolutions, Monday night, Hayneville Mayor David Daniel remains optimistic the council will come together.

Other than voting to go into regular session, approving the minutes of Aug. 14 and Sept. 11 minutes, voting to go into and out of executive session and voting to adjourn, the council deadlocked on votes from adopting Robert’s Rules of Order to paying the bills.

However, following the meeting, during which the council went into executive session, Daniel said, “I’m still hopeful that something positive is going to take place in the near future… I think we are all going to come together and work together.”

Council member Lula Tyson-Bailey would only say, “We had a meeting of the minds.”

The council deadlocked three-three on Robert’s Rules of Order, election of a council president pro tempore, appointment of a town clerk, appointment of a chief of police, appointment of a fire chief, appointment of a municipal judge, appointment of a town prosecutor, a resolution to ratify a depository bank, resolutions regarding a USDA police vehicle grant, an RC &D sidewalk project grant and refinancing a line of credit with First Citizens Bank, as well as a motion to pay the bills.

During the meeting, Council member Kim Payton addressed the issue of Council member Carole Scrushy sitting on the council, whose election resulted in conflicting orders by Lowndes County Circuit Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell and Lowndes County Probate Judge John E. Hulett.

Payton asked, “Can’t we deal with that issue later and let’s get these grants approved… We need to address these resolutions for these citizens that put us up here in these seats. We are taking these things personal among ourselves.”

Scrushy asked if an executive session could be held to talk about what’s causing the deadlock.

Hayneville Town Attorney Michael G. Strickland advised the council that without refinancing a line of credit with First Citizens Bank, “That loan is going to end up in litigation in which the town of Hayneville is going to be sued.”

Bailey took exception to a word used by Daniel in describing the recent rejection of a sewer system grant. And Daniel apologized.

The council heard from Economic Development Developer/Project Manager Helenor Bell, Hayneville Fire Chief Jesse McCall and concerned citizens during the meeting.

Bell told the council that the sidewalk project will go forward with the town having to pay matching funds instead of receiving a free $20,000 “with no catch or trick to it.”

She also confirmed that she receives no funds from grants, but is paid $12 per hour for her work.

Fire Chief McCall said the Fire Department is in good shape and will do some upgrading if the council can agree.

Dr. Aaron McCall told council members they have the right to vote however they want as long as they were “voting in the interest of the people who elected you and put you in office.” He said regarding the gridlock, “I am a citizen and you are shutting my town down.”

During the executive session by the council, some citizens engaged in a debate of issues outside Hayneville Town Hall, including the election of Scrushy.