Town of Colony Councilwoman Margaret Jamelle Dimbo, Mayor Donnis Leeth, Councilwoman Myra Twitty and Councilman Curtis Johnson were sworn in to office on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016.
COLONY – On Monday morning the Town of Colony held an organizational meeting of its town council. Present were the town's new mayor, Donnis Leeth, and council members Margaret Jamelle Dimbo, Curtis Johnson and Myra Twitty. The council currently has two unfilled seats.
Called to order by the mayor and following an invocation by Johnson, the first order of business was the election of a chairman pro tempore. A motion to appoint Johnson passed.
Second, the council voted to establish regular meeting times at Colony Town Hall at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Third, the council had to adopt rules of procedure, and voted to maintain the rules currently in use.
Fourth, the council approved the mayor's appointment of council members Johnson and Twitty to the town's finance committee.
Fifth, the council dealt with the issue of municipal employees. Leeth noted that job applications have been received, but that he is planning to wait for more. A motion was passed to continue all current appointments and employees at least until the next council meeting.
The last order of business concerned the town's money. A motion was passed to continue using Merchants Bank as a depository for municipal funds.
Leeth then opened the floor for public comment. He first recognized local resident Doug Farley, who came to volunteer for one of the currently empty council seats. As a question was raised about whether or not Farley actually lives inside the town limits, the issue was tabled for further study until the next meeting.
Former Colony Mayor, Vernon Fields, came forward to wish good luck to the new mayor and council, and to let them know that they may call on him for any assistance they might need in the future.
The meeting then adjourned. Afterward, discussion began about whose names should be on the town's bank account. Leeth was advised by Colony Town Clerk Patricia Ponder that he could be added to the account after he was sworn in, and that he could be sworn in when he goes to file his paperwork at the courthouse.
All other council members were also advised that they could be sworn in at the courthouse, but Dimbo suggested that since Ponder was qualified to do so, she could swear them in at Monday’s meeting. All agreed, and Ponder proceeded; the mayor and all three current council members were sworn in.
The council is as follows:
- Mayor – Donnis Leeth
- Council Seat One (Finance) – Margaret Jamelle Dimbo
- Council Seat Two (Streets and Drainage) – open
- Council Seat Three (Police and Fire) – open
- Council Seat Four (Parks and Rec., Library) – Curtis Johnson
- Council Seat Five (Sanitation and Utilities) – Myra Twitty
The Colony Town Council will meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. at Colony Town Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
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