May 24, 2012
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT) --- What should be a simple, every year thing in Morristown has turned into a political fight and it's getting ugly.
It's time for the mayor to appoint a new member of the Morristown Utilities Commission and that's where things have hit a wall.
It started In 2001 when a referendum passed overwhelmingly in Morristown. This is how it works; when a utilities board member's five-year-term is up, the commission gives three names to the mayor as possible replacements.
The mayor picks one and city council votes yay or nay.
But now, council members are refusing to vote yes. Not once, not twice, but 11 times and counting.
Mayor Danny Thomas tells us it's frustrating.
"To constantly send the same name back up and try and pressure the mayor, its like the tail wagging the dog. It's not a comfortable situation."
Council is unwilling to replace George B. McGuffin, who's been sitting on the board for 34 years.
And despite that 10 year old, popular referendum, council members say they should be the only one's with a say.
"Right now there's nobody better than McGuffin? " We asked council member Robert Garrett. "No." "So you wouldn't vote for anyone other than George McGuffin?" "No."
McGuffin continued to talk about his past history as an employee with the utilities board as a reason for the no votes. "Listen I worked there 42 years, I went to those board meetings, I know what's best for that system."
Now it's gone to Nashville.
Council has asked the state to remove the 2001 referendum and give it the ability to make all the decisions.
But its not all "no's" in council. Members did vote yes to one thing, taking the mayor's office away and changing it to a time share.
Now it's in the state's hands and that 2001 referendum could be back on Morristown ballots by the next election.
