Staff photo - Allie Jackson Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger with newly sworn in acting city clerk Rafael Avalos

Rafael Avalos was appointed and sworn in Thursday night as the new acting city clerk for the City of Auburn following the resignation of Patricia Matthews.

The resignation of Matthews, who had served as the acting clerk for about 18 months under Mayor Harold Money, was accepted Jan. 16.

Mayor Linda Blechinger explained the need to move swiftly in regards to appointing a replacement.

"We accepted the resignation of our acting city clerk Pat Matthews, and the city can not operate without a city clerk," said Blechinger. "Rafael has accepted to step up to the plate for us as acting city clerk."

Blechinger said she was not certain of all the details involved with the resignation. "The only thing I can really tell you is that Pat handed in her resignation...she's leaving with a lot of training that the city has paid for," said Blechinger. "I'm not sure what's going on in her personal life or [other areas.]"

Avalos has worked for the City of Auburn as the senior customer service representative since September 2006, "so this is a promotion from within," Blechinger said.

In other news, the council approved a motion to enter into negotiations with Barrow County to settle the annexation dispute case out of court.

"Many of you know that after the city took some action in late 2006 to annex some unincorporated islands in accordance with state law, the county filed an action in Supreme Court to challenge that position," said Jack Wilson, Auburn's city attorney.

He's referring to the controversy about the city's annexation of 25 parcels. The city had mailed 25 letters to property owners in October 2006 informing them the city had plans to annex their properties into the city limits. The 25 parcels in dispute are located on Parks Mill Road, County Line Road, Autry Road, Lyle Road, Sixth Street, Carl-Midway Church Road, Fourth Avenue, Kilcrease Road and Browns Bridge Road and include residences as well as R & R Manufacturing, Masonic Lodge #230 and Midway Methodist Church.

Barrow County is requesting the City of Auburn have some discussions to try to resolve the case.

Last November, there was a meeting conducted with a third party neutral-mediator. Mayor Money attended, as did Mayor-elect Blechinger. There were also several county representatives present. The county agreed to continue in negotiations with Auburn on issues that are listed in that agreement such as road maintenance, providing sanitary sewer services and several other issues.

"What's before you tonight is basically a request to ratify that process and agree to continue negotiating with the county," said Wilson.

The Barrow County Board of Commissioners has already signed the agreement.

Wilson explained there was an agreement made that the case would be stayed for six months in order to give the city and county representatives an opportunity to talk about the issues and try to reach a resolution.

"If we can (come to a resolution), there would be an intergovernmental agreement drafted and approved by the city and county," said Wilson.

If the city and county cannot agree on a resolution, the case will pick back up and the City of Auburn will go back to court.

In other business, a motion was made by Council member Sally Brown to approve an ordinance to provide a payment compensation of $50 a month to members of the City of Auburn's Parks and Leisure Commission. The council approved the motion unanimously.

The issue had been discussed in a Jan. 12 workshop, and was approved to go on the Jan. 17 agenda as new business.

Auburn Police Chief Fred Brown made a request for a surplus of four vehicles for the Police Department. The Chief said the department had 2000 Chevrolets and 2002 Ford Crown Victorias that were near or in excess of 100,000 miles. The cars would be used as trade-ins to purchase newer vehicles.

Council member Dorissa Shackleford made the motion to surplus the four vehicles submitted. Council member Peggy Langley seconded the motion and the council voted in favor of the surplus.

Chief Brown said this is a purchase that is made annually, and the department usually trades in four cars a year to make purchases of newer vehicles.

Shackleford also made the motion to approve a city ordinance to amend the code of ordinances of the City of Auburn to create the position of city administrator, with the agreement that a minor grammatical error was changed. The motion was approved.

The ordinance ordains that the Code of Ordinances of the City of Auburn be amended to add a new section, 2.06, to create the position of city administrator. The mayor and council will appoint a new administrator who will be the administrative head of the city government, and will be responsible for the administration in all departments.

A motion was made to pass a resolution for tax exemption for surviving spouses of peace officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Council member Shackelford questioned about who would be affected by the resolution.

"I was still curious if that was for anyone, consider their husband was killed 20 years ago," said Shackelford.

Wilson said the provision became effective in 2006 to present. The surviving spouse must file an affidavit with the county and testify that they meet the requirements, and the exemption will only be good if they remain unmarried.

"This is not something you can really approve or disapprove," said Wilson. "The purpose of the resolution is just to document that it's going off the books, and that your city staff... recognizes it. It's just this one taxpayer."

There were also several contract approvals made which are done annually. The approval of the annual contract for Judge John Cicala was approved, the contract for Public Defender Mari Lee Chambers was approved, as was the contract for Solicitor Robert Piccarreto.

Boy Scout J.D. Burns attended the City Council meeting to observe. He is working on gaining his citizenship in the community badge.

"Thank you guys for letting me come," Burns said to the Mayor and Council members. When asked what he thought about the meeting Burns said "It was pretty cool." When the floor was opened for citizen comments there was a list of concerns brought up such as putting in a traffic signal or new turn lane by the new Ingles, city water consumption and adding new police officers to the Police Department to help minimize speeding and other criminal activity.

Originally published Sunday, January 20, 2008