TOP PHOTO: Mayor and the council made quick work of Tuesday afternoon’s regular monthly meeting for the City of La Follette.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Tuesday afternoon, the LaFollette City Council met and worked quickly through the agenda with little conversation. The seven-minute meeting including a vote to terminate public works employee Jimmy Marlow. Early Wednesday afternoon, attorney for Marlow, Ameesh Kerhani, issued this press release from Marlow.

Two items were on the agenda in administrative matters. First was approving a list of surplus items that will be sold on Govdeals.com. The next item was the termination of public works employee Jimmy Marlow. The city claims in an employee disciplinary report dated Oct. 11, 2021, that Marlow falsely reported his work time on his timecard. The employee disciplinary report signed by Casey Boshears, public works director, and Stan Foust, city administrator/ human resources director, is a suspension notice to Marlow. Marlow, a nearly 15 year employee, has been suspended without pay since the report was issued. Yesterday afternoon, the council, in a motion made by Councilman Mark Hoskins, who began the motion per the advice of the city attorney, with a second by Councilman Wayne Kitts voted to terminate Marlow. Prior to the vote, Mayor Mike Stanfield stated that Marlow had been employed by the city for 15 years and was a good employee; adding having to follow the employee handbook. Vice-Mayor Phillip Farmer voted “no” to fire Marlow while Council Members Stephanie Grimm, Hoskins and Kitts voted “yes” to dismiss Marlow. After the vote, Stanfield told the council he would probably veto the vote.

Tuesday’s council meeting was well attended.

The council agreed to purchase a pickup truck for the fire department $37,215 and heart monitors for the medic units, $76,054.80.

Three resolutions were approved; Resolution 2021-17 authorizing the City of LaFollette to participate in the PEP Risk Management Pool Property Conservation Matching Grant Program. The grant is completed yearly. Resolution 2021-18 Initial Resolution the issuance of is not to exceed $7,000,000 General Obligations Bonds of the City of LaFollette. LaFollette Utilities Manager Kenny Baird explained in the workshop that the proceeds of the bond will go toward capital improvements to the electric system over the next 15 years. Baird told the council the first phase of the project is a new substation for Coolidge, Cedar Creek and Alder Springs. He continued that sometime in the 15 year time span secondary transformers will be installed and line work will be done. Resolution 2021-19 authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds is not to exceed $7,000,000. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/10/2021-6AM)

One Reply to “City votes to fire 15 year employee Marlow. Marlow responds.”

  1. At no time, should an employee be responsible for their time cards. That’s why there is Human Resources and Payroll Departments. Get with the times. Invest in Paylocity of KRONOS. Very little margin for error. This man should be orally reprimanded. Or documented. And action plan put in place and move on with him still as employee. My 2 cents.

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