The Fayette Board of Aldermen welcomed the city’s soon-to-be new clerk during its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 10. Members also tabled an update to the city’s dog license ordinance and further delayed a long-awaited measure to amend city codes regarding historic buildings.

Boonville resident Tammy Purvis has been announced as the new City Clerk. She has been training part-time at City Hall before she officially beings her duties on October 14.

Purvis takes over for Judy Thompson, who left the position at the end of August after two years with the city.

The council was barely able to meet last week. With three members absent, it appeared a quorum would not be met. However, East Ward Alderwoman Ronda Gerlt, also physically absent, was able to attend the meeting virtually.

The lack of a full body led to the further postponement of action regarding historical buildings. The council recently created a new historic district downtown. Now, it must decide on specific rights of owners of buildings that contribute to the city’s National Historic District.

The council is exploring a range of options. One option is to disallow any owner of such a building to change or demolish the structure unless the building is deemed dangerous. Another option is to allow the building owner to make any changes he wants or tear down the building at will. Neither of those extremes is expected to be added to the ordinance.

Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) Chair Pam Huttsell, who has spearheaded the effort to create the new district, as well as to protect such contributing buildings, has suggested the city place a stay of execution on any plans to tear down one of these buildings. She suggests a 45-day pause to allow for HPC to provide a certificate of appropriateness and make other recommendations to save the building. 

The HPC can still deny a certificate of appropriateness, but the building owner may proceed once the 45-day period expires. This is the version that is expected to pass.

However, the four council members at Tuesday’s meeting decided to hold off until the board meets again before voting on the matter.

“I feel like we’re missing two people here who might have a voice,” said Northwest Ward Alderwoman Michelle Ishmael.

Mayor Greg Stidham proposed the council hold a special meeting when all members may be present to vote on the amendment to the ordinance.

Another long-awaited piece of legislation was tabled regarding dog licensing. The new version of the ordinance will change the time required between rabies vaccinations and include new language to include titer antibody testing.

In other business, the council approved an insurance renewal at a 10 percent hike from the previous year. Mayor Stidham said he and senior lineman Sonny Conrow met with an electrical engineer regarding a future reliability study of the city’s electrical infrastructure. 

The mayor is also pursuing a way to repair the dam at Rickett’s Lake. The level was lowered by about four and a half feet below where the leak is believed to be. The city has previously budgeted $25,000 each year for a dam repair but hasn’t addressed it until now.

Mayor Stidham also noted the final meeting of an appointed committee formed to address parking concerns downtown was to meet last Thursday. A final recommendation will be brought before the council at a future meeting.

“Nobody seems to be in agreement with parallel parking,” he said, addressing concerns from downtown business owners.

The Fayette Board of Aldermen meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open, agendas are published in advance, and the public is invited.