By Emily Sanderson — January 7, 2009
SPRING CITY — A public hearing to consider the chairmanship of the city’s Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman Keith Chandler is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Spring City Courthouse prior to the city council meeting.
The meeting was scheduled at the request of Mayor Eldon Barnes because Chandler had not yet resigned despite Barnes’ request, according to city officials. A Spring City ordinance requires a majority vote of the city council in a public hearing to forcefully remove a city officer midterm.
On Monday at the Messenger’s inquiry, Chandler said he was not aware of the hearing, and he said he would submit his resignation that day.
“I serve at the request of the mayor,” Chandler said. “He should have the right to remove his officers at any time.”
The Messenger was unable to confirm whether or not Chandler did resign, despite attempts to contact city officials this week. The public hearing will still be held, as far as the newspaper is aware.
Barnes said Chandler’s resignation was requested in response to concerns from city residents who claimed that since Chandler did not presently live within city boundaries, he could not effectively chair the Planning and Zoning Committee.
Chandler said he has been doing some remodeling work on his Spring City home, and he and his family have been living outside city limits while the work is being completed.
However, city residency is not a requirement for the office, Barnes said.
Chandler agreed that other factors, such as decisions he has made as chairman, could be the reason that residents had requested his resignation, but Chandler declined comment on specific decisions.
“I don’t get along with everyone on the city council,” he said. “I have done my best to treat everyone equally, but I have not always been the most popular.”
