Judge intervenes in CMU, mayor squabble

A temporary injunction granted by a Madison Chancery Court judge has pumped the breaks on the Canton Board of Alderman's plans to remove and replace three members of the Canton Municipal Utilities Commissioners.

The Journal reported last week that aldermen had voted last Monday to remove three of the five CMU commissioners — L.C. Slaughter, Cleotha Williams and Isaac Jackson — who voted to hire a new Chief Financial Officer they say is unqualified for the position at an annual salary of $100,000.

Mayor William Truly vetoed that motion. On Wednesday, the alderman voted 5-0 to override his veto, with Alderman Lafayette Wales serving as Mayor Pro Tempore in Truly's absence.

On Friday, Chancery Court Judge Cynthia Brewer granted a temporary injunction at the request of Slaughter, Williams and Jackson.

In her ruling, Brewer said any actions taken by the Board of Aldermen at the specially called meetings last week are "void and ineffective until further Order of this Court, and further, any actions taken pursuant to said special called meetings are enjoined until further Order of this Court."

Ward 5 Alderman Les Penn said he was served with the judge's order around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon at his home.

"It's disappointing," Penn said. "But not surprising."

The controversy began when the CMU board voted to hire Richard Jackson, Isaac Jackson's first-cousin as CFO for CMU. Following the vote to replace Isaac Jackson and the other two commissioners, that board voted to fire Eric Gilkey, the Alderman for Ward 6 who had supported their removal, and CMU General Manager Stephen Thompson. Gilkey served as CMU's Vice President of Administratoin and Safety for the past two years.

A hearing on Brewer's preliminary injunction has been set for 9 a.m. on May 12 in Madison Chancery Court.