Following a closed-door executive meeting Monday of Lenoir City Council, its members voted to return the city court clerk's responsibilities to the recorder/treasurer, as the city's charter requires.

The executive session took place near the end of the regular meeting in city hall.  The council voted to add an item to the agenda and then voted to repeal a May 12, 2008 ordinance, which relegated the city court's duties to the city court judge. This action was taken following the retirement of the city court clerk at that time. 

"It came to us to ask Mrs. Maggie Hunt, when she was asked to the interim clerk, she decided after a short while she did not want to do the clerk work and be the court reporter for (City Court Judge) Terry Vann's court," said Vice Mayor Eddie Simpson, who was sitting in for Mayor Matt Brookshire, who was absent from the meeting. 

"That left us in a position to have to appoint someone to that position, and at that time we elected to appoint Jennifer Gamble Jackson to that position. She took that and did a fantastic job," he said.  "She got our collections up considerably," Simpson added. 

During an April 27 meeting this year, however, City Treasurer/Recorder Bobby Johnson Jr. asked for the duties to be returned to his office. 

At that time, the council decided to postpone action until it could review the 2008 ordinance. 

"What I would suggest we do, to get this thing back in line is to consider amending or repealing that ordinance, and we did have an ordinance in our possession last month," Simpson said. "I'm not sure how many people brought that with them, but that ordinance has been prepared and has been before us, and I would recommend some action be made on that ordinance, which would repeal the (2008 ordinance)."

The motion was made by Council member Mike Henline, seconded by member Douglas "Buddy" Hines. 

Councilman Tony Aikens was not at the meeting.

Henline clarified the motion: "We are putting our city recorder as the city court clerk."

Bobby Johnson Sr. added the board was "putting it back like it was."

As the vote was called, Councilman Bobby Johnson Sr. read a prepared statement that addressed an apparent conflict of interest stemming from his son being city recorder. 

The statement said, in part, "I declare that my argument and my vote answer only to my conscience and to my obligations to my constituents and citizens this body represents." 

The board members present, including Johnson Sr., voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance.

During the April 27 meeting, Aikens challenged Johnson Sr.'s voting on the issue, because of the relationship between Johnson Sr. and Johnson Jr. 

Hines explained rescinding that ordinance was contingent upon Johnson Jr.'s leaving the personnel as is.

"This puts it back like the city charter said," Johnson Jr. said.  He assured he had no intention of terminating anyone's job, but he was looking at cross-training personnel.