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In a two-month time span, Decherd is again without a city administrator.

Mary Aveni, who was hired on Oct. 17, has either resigned or has been terminated from her position, according to differing accounts by Board of Mayor and Aldermen members.

City Attorney Floyd Don Davis said Aveni signed formal resignation documents and agreed to part ways with the city.

However, Alderman Justin Stubblefield said Aveni was terminated without him and Alderman Shuler Hopkins knowing about it.

Stubblefield provided a copy of a termination document dated Dec. 17 and signed by Mayor Mary Nell Hess and Alderman Larry Fraley and Glenn Summers that lists reasons for letting Aveni go, including:

— A failure to assume all responsibilities of the position of city administrator.

— A failure to keep city spending to a minimum until a 2022 audit is completed and the comptroller has approved the 2024 budget.

— A failure to adequately explain the ramifications of an email software change and a lack of board approval to make the change contractually without making the cost of the change clear.

— Making the decision to change the information technology contractor without explaining to the Decherd board about the significant increase in cost stemming from the change.

“We believe that Mary Aveni cannot adequately and effectively serve Decherd as the city administrator, and her employment will be terminated effective immediately while still in a probationary period,” the termination document says.

Stubblefield said he was not informed of the circumstances surrounding Aveni’s departure, and he questions whether the board may have overstepped its legal authority by not having all members aware and involved in the action that has taken place. He added that a special meeting should have been scheduled to consider the termination issue.

Hess said she has had minimal contact with Stubblefield recently, and he hasn’t been to meetings since October. She added that she had attempted to reach out to him about the issue, but he didn’t respond.

Fraley said he was advised not to comment on the issue, and attempts were made to reach Summers and Hopkins for comment. However, they did not immediately return calls to their cellphones.

Stubblefield said he will be contacting the Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service to determine whether the action taken to release Aveni is in line with city and state statutes.