Although former city clerk John Carroll resigned from his post, he would have been terminated by the city council this week.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen intended to fire Carroll this week, based on the minutes from a special call meeting on Aug. 31.
According to the minutes, Mayor David Starling moved to notify Carroll by letter “of the Board’s intent to terminate him for job abandonment and failure and refusal to perform job duties at the next regular board meeting.” Present board members approved Starling’s motion with no opposition.
The city of Yazoo City posted a job vacancy notice to fill the city clerk’s position, following the resignation of Carroll.
Former city clerk Kaneilia Williams was recently hired by the city council as an independent contractor to assist Carroll in the preparation of the upcoming 2023-2024 fiscal year budget. Originally, she was hired to assist with the budget preparation for two months at a cost of $3,000 a month, totaling $6,000. Based on the recent claims docket, she was paid $6,000 for her services.
“Mayor David Starling wanted the record to reflect that he is not confident in the city clerk’s ability to prepare the 23/24 fiscal year budget in light of the resignation of the accountant,” according to board minutes. “After speaking with the board attorney and the Board of Aldermen, he feels it is in the best interest of the city to bring in an independent contractor to help the city clerk with the budget.”
A letter of resignation from Marshall Conico, who has served as the city’s accountant for several years with the Jackson, Braswelll, Mullins, and Bailey firm, was submitted to the city weeks ago.
But Williams’ duties and additional salary were discussed again during the Aug. 28 regular board meeting, two days before the board approved Carroll’s termination.
Based on the Aug. 28 board minutes, “Mayor Starling moved to approve an Addendum to Independent Contractor and Consulting Agreement with Kaneilia Williams and authorize the Mayor to execute for additional duties by Consultant, Kaneilia Williams, to include assisting with payroll and assisting and consulting within the Office of the City Clerk, as needed, for an additional $3,000 per month.”
