Taylorville aldermen honored a local woman, swore in a new police officer, and passed a host of ordinances and motions Monday night in half an hour.  But, it was the end of the meeting that created the most discussion.

A motion was asked for by Mayor Bruce Barry to pay the bills, but was held up by Alderman Megan Bryant as she questioned 2 bills presented for payment from city attorney Rocci Romano.  

Mayor Barry told Bryant that he felt the Council should go into closed session to discuss Romano’s bills.  This is where we pickup the discussion between Mayor Barry and Alderman Bryant.

The aldermen visited among themselves whether there should be a closed session to discuss Romano’s compensation, or whether the motion to pay the bills should be addressed.   Romano cited the state statute that gives the Council the authority to go into closed session to discuss compensation of the legal advisor to the city.

The vote to go into closed session was approved by the Taylorville Council 6 to one with Alderman Kathy Driskell being the lone “no” vote.  

During the other 25 minutes of the meeting, Mayor Barry declared October 7th as “Holly Krepel Day” honoring her organization of spring and fall garage sales. 

Alexander Kater (left) was also sworn in by City Clerk Jolynne Richardson (right) as the city’s newest police officer.  Kater's son is holding the Bible.

A host of amendments to the Business District Agreement for upgrading of various buildings inside the District by local individuals, businesses and non-profits, were all approved.

On a vote of 5 to 3, the Taylorville Council spent some 276-thousand dollars on a new street sweeper; they approved the October 26th Halloween Parade and set Trick or Treat Nights as October 30th and 31st from 5 til 8 both nights.

Several recommended motions from the Ordinance Committee were approved, including amending the City Code on penalties for selling alcohol, tobacco and vape to minors; and to change the requirements for a new storage building inside city limits.

Taylorville Council Finance Committee recommendations approved with motions Monday night included purchasing training for city staff, paying bills on the East Poplar Street Improvement project, purchasing a new pump for the Prison Lift Station at a cost not exceeding 20-thousand dollars, spending 30-thousand dollars on reparing the sewer tap on South Walnut Street, and approving City Clean-Up Day as October 19th.