Danielsville council member resigns

The drama in Danielsville continues with the surprise resignation of long-time councilwoman Janice Merk.

Merk resigned Monday last week at the end of a special called meeting in which the council voted to approve a special election to replace former mayor Phillip Croya, who resigned Jan. 10.

She told the council she was resigning, effective immediately, because she has problems with the way they have conducted business in recent days, citing an improper vote and an illegal meeting as specifics.

Merk said the council took an improper vote during a meeting regarding retaining Matt Pilkington as chief of police

“It was an improper 2 -1 vote,” she said, adding that the city code calls for three affirmative votes from council members to constitute a legal vote.

Acting mayor Junne Temple disagreed with Merk, saying that the vote was “a wash” since three members did not agree on his staying on.

“Then why did we vote?” Merk asked.

“I don’t know why we did, I wondered the same thing myself,” city attorney Dale Perry said, adding that there was no need to vote since Pilkington rescinded his resignation. That resignation was accepted by the council during a special called meeting on Jan. 3, which was also declared an “improper meeting” by the council last week, after it was pointed out by citizens that the meeting was not advertised at city hall.

“That means there was no meeting,” Perry said, adding that the vote to accept Pilkington’s resignation was not valid in the first place, so a vote to rescind it was not necessary.

Comments

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#1 Anon on 02/02/12 at 05:54 PM [Reply]

As usual Mrs Temple has all the answers..Mostly wrong answers. Her way or the highway.

#2 Amazed at lies flying on 02/02/12 at 08:06 PM [Reply]

"Temple said she did not agree with Merk’s assessment of the council.

“The council has never done anything intentionally wrong, or with malice,” she said. “(But) have we made mistakes? Yes.”

Anyone on any city council anywhere should know the bylaws. If they don't they should not be on the council in the first place!! "(But) have we made mistakes? How hard is it to look up procedures in your city bylaws? Very hard when one wants to run their own fifedom!!

#2.1 Virginia Moss on 02/04/12 at 05:12 PM [Reply]

Every time I hear that irritating question "Did we make mistakes?" with the accompanying answer, I know the person is in the wrong! Same goes for that arrogant "Mistakes were made" statement. People under pressure are always trying to beat citizens and reporters to the question they know they will be asked in order to try to control the inquiries so the truth won't be outed. If they have nothing to hide, they would openly encourage and accept original questioning.

#3 Resident Redneck on 02/02/12 at 09:59 PM [Reply]

"Temple said she did not afree with Merk's assessment of the council" No DUH. Like she would admit yeah I know some of the things we do at our meetings are illegal? Temple also said "The council has never done anything intentionally wrong or with malice But have we made mistakes? Yes" And she ain't going to admit the council has ever done anything wrong because she was and is one of them( for now) I think Temple shot her own self in the foot if she ever wants to be Mayor of Danielsville? If she is making mistakes as a member of the council if elected to Mayor the mistakes will keep happening but it will never be her fault? They will get new council members to blame it on.
This makes 3 members of the Danielsville city Government that have left within 2 months? Ron Faust, Philip Croya, and Janice Merk. I think that should tell someone that they need to look at the whole Danielsville Government?

#3.1 ConcernedCitizen on 02/03/12 at 09:11 AM [Reply]

Mr. Redneck you are right this is 3 members gone within the last 2 months. If you remember right Mr. Faust got beat in November and if I remember right got beat pretty bad. It sounds like the people of Danielsville wanted him gone anyway. As for Mr. Croya and Mrs. Merk it sounds like they didn't get what they wanted so instead of fighting for what they thought was right they took the easy way out and resigned. It looks to me like those are the ones who don't need to be there any way. As for the current council I think we need to give the current council the benefit of the doubt and let them get things straightned out. I think with a little time these council members will pull together and do whats best for the city. All I can say buddy is if you think you can do any better then anyone else in there right now, then come on down and put your money where your mouth is qualifying for Mayor starts on Monday.

#3.1.1 Resident Redneck on 02/03/12 at 12:38 PM [Reply]

ConcernedCitizen- But is Mr. Faust there now? Is Mr. Croya there now? Is Ms. Merk there now? And you say we need to give the current council time to pull together to make this work? How much time should we give them? A year, Hey maybe we should give them 20 years and then if they can't get it right should we fire them or retire them? They don't want me as Mayor because I wouldn't put up with the crap that has been going on with the council? If you want to gossip save that for after the meetings and do it in the parking lot or go to the Huddle House AND there is alot of stuff in my past I'm not very proud of and I don't want that to be drug back up and into public?

#4 Anon on 02/03/12 at 08:37 AM [Reply]

All Mrs Temple does is intentionall wrong and malicious. The city attorney is inept. When are we going to get a council who looks out for the citizens instead of petty arguments.

#4.1 Resident Redneck on 02/03/12 at 08:59 AM [Reply]

Anon- The only way we are going to get a council who looks out for the citizens is to wipe the old one out and start new. That means fire everyone on the current council including the lawyer? Everyone on the current council have been under and agree with Temple so they need to go right along with her? The people who didn't agree with her are gone now?

#5 John Fulford on 02/03/12 at 09:06 AM [Reply]

Since their is no clear written Laws supposedly, then perhaps this government has become detrimental in having the ability to serve this community at all ,as that being the reason we have government in the first place.

Perhaps we have reached a time where we need to alter or abolish it and re institute one that will better serve our community needs rather than their own desires .

If there was someone who would be willing to step forward and offer their services at half the salary that the council members receive now in a show of good faith that they are in it to serve and not for their own advancement giving favors to no one . I would give my vote and approval of their public service and stand behind them offering my time in any way to help them correct the wrongs and move us as a people and a community forward as a whole leaving no one excluded or left behind.

I also disagree with those who up and quit rather than stand a fight with honor and dignity for what is right . We as a community have to stand as one to support those we put in office and help to aid them too ward of the corruption that we all claim is wrong.

We can no longer sit on the side lines and say I voted . Its is not enough . What is occurring to us is not only by their design but also by our lack of participation to give continued support to get behind the good people who do choose to serve and help them to fight off and repel the thing which causes them to fall weak and become corrupted or just give up .

This is a government of the people by the people and for the people, or is it ?

#5.1 Dville Outsider on 02/03/12 at 01:46 PM [Reply]

Council members only make about
130- 150 dollars a month. Nobody does it for the money. County Commisioners make alot more than City council people do in Madison county. If you live in Danielsville why dont you volunteer. In Danielsville city council elections happen every year. each member has a 2 year term with 2 council positions being on the opposite year than the other two. You dont like you you have then vote in 2 new people. Worst case you have to wait one year to put in two new people assuming you can get anyone to run Danielsville.

#5.2 Ms.K on 02/03/12 at 02:35 PM [Reply]

Well said. Maybe the best people for the job(s) are not long-time Madison County residents, but newcomers to the County. Would the former vote for the latter or just resent the idea of an "outsider" wanting to come in and run things? I suspect the locals would reject a qualified newcomer even though long-time residents may not have the talent or emotional make-up for the job(s).

#6 Enough already on 02/03/12 at 02:20 PM [Reply]

Sounds as if this council is about as screwed up as kip thomas and his posse ..

#7 sawdust on 02/03/12 at 03:50 PM [Reply]

Spurling's P[cture is in the bad and busted paper . Bench warrant.Another council member in hot seat. lol

#7.1 Just Sayin' on 02/04/12 at 10:56 AM [Reply]

Wow...If I was on the city council and had been arrested for ANY reason, I think I'd have to resign. How could anyone justify staying as a representative for the city?

#7.1.1 Resident Redneck on 02/05/12 at 01:38 PM [Reply]

Just Sayin'- Oh. they'll say that was a false arrest?

#7.2 Virginia Moss on 02/04/12 at 03:02 PM [Reply]

lol? All this is anything but something to laugh about! It's pitiful and sad and upsetting for the people of Danielsville. Their hard-earned tax money is being wasted and worse. I can only hope that some courageous souls with honesty and integrity will step up to serve. Perhaps the positions need to pay more in order to avoid attracting people who might use the positions for financial or other gain.

#8 anony on 02/03/12 at 09:45 PM [Reply]

Did I miss something? A few weeks ago Mrs. Temple wanted to abolish the Police Dept. entirely. Now she wants the Dept. with a Chief and two deputies.

What happened? Was the Chief going to burn her cornbread? A closed door session here, an illegal meeting there; sounds like she pulled the ole bait and switch. The Mayor comes out with a black eye (again) and she steps out smelling like a spring bouquet (again).

Don,t inhale too deeply, there's a stink bug in there somewhere.

Don

#8.1 Resident Redneck on 02/05/12 at 01:52 PM [Reply]

anony-Yep and you wait now that Merk resigned they will say the illegal stuff was Faust, Croya, and Merks ideal? And that stuff about wanting to abolish the Police Dept. now she will say she was just repeating what Croya said? Anything that she said in the past if called on it now she will say it was Croya's words she was just repeating them because it was what he wanted.

#9 Anonymous on 02/05/12 at 05:21 PM [Reply]

Wasn't Mrs Merk there when all this 'illegal' stuff was going on? Why did she not say something then and stop this 'illegal' actions from taking place? C'mon Janice what is the real deal?

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Danielsville council member resigns

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Danielsville council member resigns

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