Basham acted as alderman for the final time Wednesday and will be replaced by Westbrook beginning at the council’s next meeting, scheduled for May 17.
Joe Basham discusses changes to the Rollingwood City Code at the Dec. 21 meeting.[/caption]City Attorney Doug Young said Basham’s seat technically became a vacancy when he moved, but he was still allowed to serve on the council until a new appointment was made. The appointment was the final action taken by the council Wednesday.
“[Serving] has been kind of fun,” Basham said. “I’ve learned a lot and it’s a tough job. I think a lot about the issues the [City Council] is going to face, and as this town continues to turn over and the people who are moving in are busy, I think it’s going to be a struggle to find people willing to spend the amount of time needed to do this.”
Westbrook had previously filed to run in the November 2016 election but withdrew his name after learning that now-alderman Gavin Massingill was also running, Massingill said at Wednesday’s meeting.
“He decided to back out [of the election] to save the city some money and effort,” he said, before making a motion to appoint Westbrook.
The City Council also officially ordered a general election for city officers to be held Nov. 7 that will include Basham’s former seat as well as at-large council seats held by Aldermen Bobby Dillard and Michael Dyson .
A vote to reauthorize local sales tax at a rate of 0.25 percent to maintain city roads will also take place Nov. 7, and the ballot language was approved Wednesday.
