Hooper council delays ordinance to strip mayoral powers, rescinds firing of city attorneys

The Hooper City Council on Feb. 21 voted to table for three months an ordinance that would remove the mayor’s executive and administrative powers and, in separate motions, rescinded a unilateral termination letter to the city's legal counsel and the outstanding request-for-proposals (RFP) for legal services.

The move came after more than two hours of discussion by the mayor, council members and residents about governance, recent personnel changes and long-running friction between council members and the mayor. Council Member Hill moved to table the ordinance until June 25; Council Member Northrop seconded the motion and the measure carried on a roll-call vote.

The ordinance before the council would have amended the Hooper municipal code to transfer the mayor’s administrative authority to the city council and leave the mayor a largely ceremonial role. Mayor said the proposal required “careful consideration of legal, operational, and community impacts,” and urged a transition plan be developed before any transfer of duties.

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