Tempers flare at Mount Vernon council meeting

MOUNT VERNON — Sparks flew Monday night after Mount Vernon city council members rejected creating a communications director position by a 4 to 3 vote.

“Mr. President, we have an agreement that there are no surprises when we get to this session,” Mayor Matt Starr said during the remarks portion of the meeting.

“Four of you voted no on this communications director. Not one of you sent me an email about it. Not one of you sent Tanner [Salyers] an email about this. And next time you want to lecture me about being a bad communicator, point the finger at yourself. Because I’m tired of taking that criticism of not communicating, not being transparent, when you clearly have different rules to follow.”

Starr and Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers previously said they intended to move Starr’s administrative assistant, Todd Hill, into the communications director position.

Salyers clarified on Monday that although the position carries a salary range of $30.25 per hour to $42.36 per hour, Hill would receive his current salary of $65,000.

Council members appropriated the $65,000 in the 2025 budget.

The negative votes

“I think council made it very clear in our budgeting how we felt about creating positions for people,” Council member Tammy Woods told Starr.

“I had no question for you because every time we discussed this position, it was made very clear it was created for a person. … Not opening it up to applicants was something that was discussed during the budget.”

Council member Amber Keener said she did not need additional emails because she was vocal during budget meetings.

“I will consistently vote no against roles created for individuals,” she said. “I think that breeds cronyism and nepotism, and I think it’s important to stand up against that.

“I have consistently in my time on council gone through that, so there should be no surprise about where I fell on that issue.”

Councilwoman Janis Seavolt said she did not know how other council members were voting, so she did not think to tell Starr she was voting no.

“The money situation is really bothering me. I don’t know how we’re doing. I’d like to know where we’re at,” she said.

“I hate spending money when I don’t know how much money we really have. Until we get the situation under control, I’m very nervous.”

Councilman Mike Miller said transparency has improved, but there is room for the council and administration to improve their communication.

Part of that transparency includes longer committee meetings and more discussion.

“Discussion is what breeds questions, and sometimes we don’t have that,” he said.

“A couple of these issues as they’ve gone through this six-week process, we should have had more discussion about, and that’s council. … So I’m kind of sharing some blame here with this.”