Terry Dove named new city administrator

It was standing room only in the Aledo Council Chambers at Monday's May 2, 2011 Aledo City Council meeting. It was out with the old and in with the new as a new mayor, four aldermen and a police chaplain were sworn in and began serving the city.

Besides naming committees, Mayor Bill Breeden also presided over a closed session to discuss personnel and came back into the meeting to name some new responsibilities for some of the existing staff, as well as a two new appointments.

Breeden named Terry Dove, who had been acting as interim police chief, as the permanent chief as well as giving him the responsibilities of city administrator. Janice Green, who has served as city administrator since 2009, had already submitted her resignation and notice of retirement. Green did agree to remain with the city on a part-time basis as the city's financial manager. Breeden named J. Michael Sponsler, as a part-time Aledo police officer and assistant chief of police.

Jarod Dale, city clerk, was given the added task of office manager. Mayor Breeden said the details of the contracts for the new positions would be revealed at the May 16 meeting.

New council members sworn in were Jay Doherty, Michael Chausse, Patrick Rentfro and Chris Hagloch. The city clerk also swore in Pastor Lucas Dunn as the police chaplain.

Mayor Breeden thanked the outgoing council members for their service to the city. Outgoing council members Randy Mattson, Richard E. Maynard, Jr., Robert Rillie and Richard Hunter were recognition plaques by the new mayor. Hunter, who was absent from the meeting, was also awarded a plaque with a gavel on it for taking on the duties of mayor for nearly a year and a half.

One action taken during the meeting was to refer an old business item to the public property committee, having to do with the sale of real estate (former Henderson lot) to the Aledo Fire Protection District. That item has been tabled since June 21, 2010.

The council also set up a Tax Increment Financing Committee meeting, for Thursday, May 5 at 6 p.m. the TIF grant agreement between the city and World-Wide Gun Report (tabled since Aug. 2, 2010) was one item on the agenda. The TIF committee will also be discussing the ordinance for the 2011 further amendment to the Aledo Central Area Redevelopment Plan and Central Area Redevelopment Project. This ordinance was defeated last month with a tie vote.

Alderman Barry Cooper last month made a motion to reconsider the ordinance, which was brought up at Monday's meeting. A motion to act on the motion to reconsider was approved by six aldermen, with Alderman Tab Balmer voting No and Alderman Hagloch abstaining.

Cooper then made a motion to table the matter and refer it back to the TIF committee, with that motion seconded by Chausse. The vote on that motion was again six "Yes," one "No" (Balmer) and one "Abstain" (Hagloch).