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Decherd has been without a city administrator in two instances during the past two years and has subsequently given the mayor’s position the authority it once held to conduct the city’s business.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Ordinance No. 454 for a third time on Feb. 13, setting the action in stone. Aldermen Larry Fraley, Shuler Hopkins and Glenn Summers voted in favor of the ordinance at that meeting.

However, Alderman Justin Stubblefield, who was absent, had previously voted in opposition. Mayor Mary Nell Hess only votes in tiebreaking situations and did not vote on the matter.  

Key changes highlighted in the ordinance include that the mayor:

— Shall be the chief legislative officer of the city and have general supervision of all municipal affairs.

— May conduct inquiries and investigations into the affairs of the city and may require such reports from the officers and employees as the mayor deems reasonably necessary.

— Shall create committees as needed and make appointments to committees, boards and commissions as provided by the charter or municipal code and shall report such appointments to the council at its next regular meeting.

— Will conduct routine evaluations of the city administrator’s performance on behalf of the Board of Aldermen and report to the board its findings for any actions that may be needed.

— Shall have such other powers and duties as may be necessary to carry out the mayor’s executive duties not inconsistent with the charter or municipal code.

Hess said the ordinance restores authority to the position that the mayor once held before the city-administrator position was in place.

She added that with City Administrator Mary Aveni’s recent exit, her assigned duties still need to be handled, and the ordinance change will ensure there’s oversight for the new city administrator the city plans to hire.

Stubblefield said he was concerned that the language in the ordinance might be “too broad” and not achieve its intended purpose in defining where authority should be.

Hess said the ordinance creates a system of checks and balances.

“This makes it where the mayor can keep an eye on the city administrator, like the city administrator keeps an eye on the department heads, and the department heads keep an eye on the employees,” Hess said.

She used an example that the ordinance would give the mayor the authority to ensure the city administrator is spending money according to the board’s intent.

The board’s action follows Aveni’s exit where Decherd found itself again without a city administrator just two months after hiring her for the positon.

Aveni, who was hired on Oct. 17, 2023, either resigned or was terminated from her positon, 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, Stubblefield said Aveni was terminated without him and Hopkins knowing about it.