Red Bay council tables Shewbart severance
Red Bay City Council’s meeting Feb. 21 ran longer than their meetings normally do, thanks to the first item of new business on the agenda.
Mayor Charlene Fancher put before the council the request from attorney James Irby for a severance package to be given to former employee Mike Shewbart. Shewbart was released from his position as city operations director in September 2017; the details of his firing have not been disclosed to the public, as it is a personnel issue.
The severance package would be for two years’ salary, which would add up to almost $100,000. At the request of councilman Mike Kennedy, the council entered executive session to discuss the matter.
“There are things that need to be brought to light that we found out on our own,” Kennedy said.
The council spent more than an hour in executive session. When councilmembers resumed the business portion of the meeting, they voted to table the issue to be discussed at a later date.
The council also:
- Approved the motion to take bids to repair/renovate Bay Tree Park and to fund the project from the Industrial Development and Recruitment Fund. Bids will be taken separately and include lighting/electrical, sprinkler system, landscaping/shrubbery and gazebo repairs.
- Approved the tree trimming quote from Affordable Tree Service at a total of around $5,000 to be funded from the Industrial Development and Recruitment Fund. This is for the Hoyt Keeton Walking Trail and is estimated to take two days of work.
- Approved the Park and Recreation Board requests to establish a City of Red Bay Disc Golf Board consisting of five members with three-year terms; establish a “Freedom Hills River Trail-City of Red Bay Friends of the Alabama Scenic River Trails Chapter,” consisting of three members with three-year terms; and set the membership for the Dixie Youth Baseball Board at nine members with three-year terms.
- Approved the Park and Recreation Board recommendations to appoint Roman Lynch, J.T. Ables and David Reynolds to the Dixie Youth Baseball Board and post the vacant ninth position for two weeks.
- Approved the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s request for the purchase of a table at the annual awards banquet March 15 at a cost of $220.
- Approved the road block request from Teresa Lawler for the month of September, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Approved the Red Bay School expenditure requests, which include travel expenses and court equipment repairs for the tennis team; $180 toward sending 30 students to the Franklin County Math Competition at NW-SCC Phil Campbell Campus March 16; and the funds to replace four backboards (including the cables, motors, switches and wires) in the gym.
