Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell is not in favor of some of the changes being proposed by his town council.
The council is creating ordinances to give themselves more governing options after giving the mayor a
vote of ‘no confidence’ last month. Three different ordinances have been proposed which would involve
the whole council and not just the mayor in creating new departments in the town and the hiring of a town
attorney. Council also wants to incorporate a buffer of two council members between council and the
mayor when dealing with an attorney thus ensuring a transparency in any legal decision.
In a special called meeting on Thursday, August 6, council voted to include themselves in decisions that
were being made entirely by the mayor including the hiring of attorneys for the town’s legal actions.
Also, to hear directly from those attorneys on legal advice.
The mayor has said this threatens his position in a ‘strong mayor ‘ form of government and that he would
seek legal action in a court of law. Mitchell said he had hired three different lawyers during his nine
months as mayor and has saved the town money.
The changes from a ‘strong’ mayor council to a council form of government would need a referendum and a
vote from the citizens in Chapin.
