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Haltom to enforce ordinances in Fillmore
FILLMORE — Acknowledging that ordinances on the books need to be more robustly enforced, Fillmore town leaders recently made a move to do so.
The town council’s move to appoint new member Jeff Haltom to an ordinance enforcer position, however, drew questions from a local business owner.
Prior to the council’s actual vote, Dave Mitchell asked if he and others in attendance had a vote on the measure.
Town Attorney Jeff Boggess intervened, noting that public comments are reserved after the council conducts its business. The attorney noted the appointment was the council’s prerogative.
“These folks are elected to do the town’s business,” Boggess said. “This town enforcer is not an elected position.”
In the section allotted for public comments, Haltom having the responsibility as a member of the council was the matter in question. This also led to the issue of the town not having a town marshal.
“We’re certainly for the code enforcement,” resident Norm Taylor said for his and his spouse’s part about the town meeting various complaints. “Nothing’s getting done.”
“Trust me, I really don’t want to do this, but we’ve got to do something,” Haltom said in agreement. “It’s just getting out of hand.”
As for having a town marshal, it was noted that the council could vote to abolish the position itself. Boggess held a recommendation for it to be left vacant for the time being.
As for Mitchell, he disagreed with a council member having a responsibility for code enforcement, rather than an outside party.
“I think it needs to be someone outside of public office,” he said, referencing that Haltom would already be occupied with council business. Haltom responded that he would be flexible time-wise.
Mitchell expressed concerns about Haltom not being held to liability or criticism for perceived harassment.
Council President Meredith Trusty said the council would work with Boggess on the enforcement. As such, he would give opinions on how the town can go about “to get things done.”
Boggess added that the town’s nuisance ordinance would have to be amended for Haltom to enforce it, rather than a town marshal. The council agreed for him to do so.
In other business:
• It was announced that Andi Schardt will resign as the town’s clerk-treasurer at the end of the month. She did not provide reasoning for her doing so, with Trusty saying, “We tried to talk her out of it.”
Schardt was appointed as Fillmore’s clerk-treasurer in December 2022 to succeed Bill Miles.
As Schardt was elected as an independent, it will be up to the council to choose her replacement. In the meantime, Clerk Works’ Monica Bray will, as Trusty put it, “take up the slack” with the town’s financials.
• Boggess spoke to the town’s contract with the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department. He specified that the contract rolls over from year to year, while Fillmore Fire is obligated to provide audits as such.
“As far as I know, they haven’t been living up to that contract,” Trusty commented for his part as to the fire department delivering the audits, as well as providing proof of insurance.
Boggess added that the audit has to be sent by Feb. 15. Meanwhile, the town would have to notify Fillmore Fire by July of a decision to get out of the contract.
No representation from the fire department was at the meeting.
While Utilities Operator Joe Cash was absent, Jerry Huff joined Schardt, Boggess and fellow councilmen Trusty and Haltom for the meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Fillmore Town Council is set for Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at the Fillmore Town Hall.