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Paoli council adopts rule limiting public comment, approves attorney rate increase and personnel actions
Summary
The Paoli Town Council voted to remove general citizen comments from regular meetings (effective Dec. 16), approved a higher town attorney hourly rate, authorized advertising for a police chief, and approved several personnel and fiscal motions including a $70,683 grant‑match transfer.
The Paoli Town Council adopted changes to meeting rules and approved several governance and personnel actions at its Dec. 16 meeting, including a controversial rule change that removes general citizen comments from regular meetings unless the meeting is a public hearing.
Ordinance 2025‑15 (recorded in the transcript as the adoption of amended meeting rules effective Dec. 16, 2025) was presented by Town Attorney Hunt Reynolds and approved by motion of Arla Jean Frazier, seconded by Theron Owen. The ordinance passed 4‑1 with council member Donna Dillard voting no. The ordinance removes general citizen comment from regular meetings and allows public comment only during recognized public hearings.
The council also approved the 2026 town attorney contract with Tucker and Tucker Law Firm PC, increasing the hourly rate from $250 to $265 (motion: Arla Jean Frazier; second: Theron Owen; vote 4‑1, Donna Dillard no).
President Bobbie Bostock proposed advertising publicly for a Police Chief position with a proposed salary of $60,000 per year and a $5,000 hiring bonus. The motion to advertise passed 3‑1‑1 (Bobbie Bostock moved; Theron Owen seconded; Donna Dillard voted no; Mylea Pluris abstained).
Finance and personnel actions approved include Resolution 2025‑05 to transfer a $70,683 Community Crossing grant match into the Local Road and Bridge Matching Grant Fund #4500 (motion: Theron Owen; second: Arla Jean Frazier; vote 4‑1, Donna Dillard no), an amendment to Salary Ordinance 2025‑15 to include a 2025 employee bonus (motion: Theron Owen; second: Mylea Pluris; vote 4‑1, Donna Dillard no), and a pay increase for Brandon Johnson from $23.18 to $23.69 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2026 (motion: Theron Owen; second: Donna Dillard; vote 5‑0). The council approved claims totaling $1,246,648.35 for Dec. 3–16, 2025 (motion: Theron Owen; second: Arla Jean Frazier; vote 4‑1, Donna Dillard no).
Why it matters: The ordinance restricting public comments changes how residents may address the council at regular sessions; the attorney rate increase and approved personnel steps affect town operating costs and staffing processes.
What’s next: The ordinance takes effect Dec. 16, 2025, per the transcript record. The council scheduled a special session for Dec. 29, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. for year‑end processes and approved closing the office to the public Dec. 31 for bank deposits. The council adjourned at 6:36 P.M.
