Madison aldermen approve consent agenda covering personnel moves, contracts and grant acceptances

At a regular meeting Oct. 7, 2025, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Madison unanimously approved a broad consent agenda that bundled personnel actions, contract renewals, construction pay applications and grant acceptances.

The consent agenda was introduced by Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and approved after Alderman Janie Jarvis moved for approval and Alderman Tawanna Tatum seconded; the board recorded a unanimous vote in favor and Mayor Butler declared the motion carried. The approval covered meeting minutes and the claims docket as listed in exhibits, multiple personnel and departmental routine items, and several project-related contracts and pay applications.

Key personnel items in the consent package included acceptance of the resignations of Street Department laborers Celenta Sims (effective Sept. 24, 2025) and Nathaniel Sims (effective Sept. 30, 2025); authorization to hire Ellis D. Fair Jr. as a full‑time police officer effective Oct. 8, 2025; authorization of the termination of Street Department custodian Alonzo Shaver and Park Department laborer Dwight Clanton; acceptance of the retirement of Special Projects Officer Chris Pace effective Oct. 15, 2025; and authorization to transfer Guy Strickland to Public Works Office Manager effective Oct. 16, 2025.

The board also approved administrative renewals and vendor agreements included in the consent agenda: renewal of the Police Department’s annual service subscription with PowerDMS and renewal of the department’s computer and telephone maintenance contract with TCS Ware. The consent agenda authorized the Police Department to submit its Annual Certification report to the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Agreement and to rollover petty cash for fiscal year 2026.

Project and procurement actions approved included Pickering Firm Pay Application #4 for the Strawberry Patch Park sidewalk installation project, Pay Application #2 for Layne Christensen Company on the City Center water, sewer and drainage improvements project, and change orders for Hemphill Construction on multiple projects. The board authorized a contract with Pickering Engineering to provide CE&I services for the Mississippi Department of Transportation Rice Road overlay project and approved advertising for bids for in‑place asphalt and cold milling, roadway striping and marking, polyurethane foam, concrete services, forestry mulching and related labor and equipment for the 2026 term.

The consent agenda also authorized execution of a Non‑Federal Reimbursable Agreement (AJF-ON-AAC-25-AC-007432) between the Federal Aviation Administration and the City of Madison regarding PAPIs at Bruce Campbell Field; accepted the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security Grant 25HS2449 for the fire department and authorized appropriate signatures; and authorized the Fire Department to sign an agreement with the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Several routine administrative items were included as well: acceptance of Water Appeals Board minutes, authorization of specified water billing refunds, approval of departmental monthly reports, authorization of travel for staff (including Deputy Clerk Ruth Gibbons to the MAGPPA Annual Conference and Fire Inspector Kevin Miller to the BOAM Conference), and approval of a Generator Industrial Maintenance Service Agreement with Taylor Generator Sudden Service.

The meeting recorded no separate public discussion of individual consent items; all were approved in a single motion. With no further business, Alderman Guy Bowering moved to adjourn, Alderman Pat Peeler seconded, and the board adjourned by unanimous vote.

The actions taken on the consent agenda authorize staff to proceed with hires, contract signings, project billings and advertised procurements as specified in the meeting exhibits.