Samburg working on new charter

By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Samburg city officials are continuing to work on a series of moves designed to update the town’s charter and certain city ordinances.
The Samburg mayor and board of aldermen met in called session Thursday afternoon and put into motion a complete overhaul of the city charter.
The board voted 5-0 for a resolution that states in part, “it now appears that the interest of the Town of Samburg citizens will be better served if the current charter is replaced with a new charter.”
Work on that new charter will begin Wednesday afternoon when members of the board meet at Samburg City Hall to review the town’s current 1947 charter. Board members will look to the city charters from other local towns such as Hornbeak, Troy and Obion to draft a new city charter for Samburg.
Once completed, the proposed new city charter will be forwarded to state Rep. Bill Sanderson and the newly-elected state senator for the 24th district, who will be asked to introduce and recommend approval of the town’s new charter by the General Assembly. Samburg’s new charter will ultimately have to be certified by the Secretary of State once it’s ratified by the state Legislature.
Also during Thursday afternoon’s 20-minute meeting, the Samburg board approved the first of two readings of an ordinance officially establishing the office of municipal judge. While Sam Nailling Jr. has been serving as Samburg’s city judge for many years, the town’s last remaining copy of the ordinance creating the municipal judgeship has been lost. The Samburg board has drafted a new ordinance to replace the missing ordinance, and second and final approval of the new ordinance is on the agenda for the board’s June 4 meeting.
The ordinance reestablishing the office of municipal judge comes just a few weeks after the board settled the issue of whether Police Chief James Hack can legally serve as the town’s chief law enforcement officer.
In other action at Thursday’s meeting, the Samburg board:
• Approved a recommendation from new board member Sharon Cunningham to move a speed limit sign located on Highway 22 West and just outside the city limits on the west side of town. The sign will be moved about 100 yards east, which will place the sign within the town’s city limits.
• Was informed by board member Eddie Fickle that a $660 charge to the city for water and sewer service to the new City Hall building has been reimbursed to the city. Fickle said the new City Hall building continues to run under budget and he will use $405 of the $660 to purchase a new sewer grinder that will serve the City Hall building.
• Agreed to draft an ordinance that will be presented at the board’s June 4 meeting that will establish a fine policy for speed limit violations in the city.
Absent from Thursday’s meeting was board member Juni Fickle.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 5.25.12