TAYLOR: Well, not sure how someone has the authority to advertise for Police Chief in Taylor.
It is well established fact that Mayor Elect Robert Lamb’s first official act of business when he took the oath of office as Mayor was to terminate James Brazier as Police Chief of Taylor Alabama. Brazier held the police chief position for 7 months when he was hired under Mayor Billy Snell tenure.
The Mayor oath of office was administered by Taylor Municipal Court Judge Farrest Taylor to Robert Lamb at 8:00 AM. By 8:45 AM now Mayor Robert Lamb had James Braizer in the Magistrate’s Office, with the Magistrate Ann Baxter and City Prosecutor Gary Maxwell. Before they went in the meeting in the Magistrate Office Ann Baxter asked now Mayor Robert Lamb “are you going to do it in here or in my office”. Mayor Lamb said in her ( Baxter’s Office ). I hope that Baxter included that part in her statement because I just might have that part recorded!!!
At 8:45 AM Chief James Brazier came walking from the building prepared to walk home. I was sitting in the parking lot because I had already heard Robert Lamb’s common plan, scheme and design and was waiting around. I gave James Brazier a ride home so he did not have to walk home.
- James Brazier was hired by all members of the Taylor City Council.
- When James Brazier was hired, Robert Lamb was employed as the Ordinance Officer for the City of Taylor.
- Brazier changed some of the ways that Robert Lamb was operating which made Lamb mad.
While Robert Lamb was employed with the City of Taylor as Ordiance Compliance Officer Tim Miller was a police officer in Taylor. After James Brazier was Chief there was a series of events of which Tim Miller resigned. Needless to say Tim Miller did not like James Brazier but Lamb and Miller had become friends. The rumors of Lamb’s common plan, scheme and design were rampant and the rumors he wanted Tim Miller to be the Police Chief when he took office. And Miller was there for the oath of office and remained at Taylor Polcie Department/City Hall until around 10:30 AM or 10:45 AM.
Those rumors are the very reason RSN made sure present for oath of office to be administered to Robert Lamb. In fact RSN asked Lamb are you going to swear in the police officers today and he said no, Wednesday.
The next City Council meeting now former Police Chief James Brazier appeared in a suit. There was to be a hearing on his termination. Brazier said he wanted it delayed until which time his attorney could be present. And it was continued. And RSN has been at every meeting since and it has not been mentioned in the public meeting.
There are certain ways, by law, the termination of the police chief has to be handled. And the Mayor does not have the sole authority to hire and fire without the apporoval of the City Council, which has to be done in an open and public meeting.
Attorney Jim Parkman, representing James Brazier, has mailed a letter to the City of Taylor, of which the City of Taylor has received. Attorney Stephen Etheredge, representing the City of Taylor, has responded to Brazier’s Attorney, Jim Parkman. However the City Council of Taylor has not ratified Mayor Robert Lamb’s actions. And, the City Council has not named anyone as Acting Police Chief.
Who authorized the City of Taylor to advertise for Police Chief is unknown. While I am not a lawyer, but it appears to be that officially James Brazier might still be entitled to compensation since the day Mayor Robert Lamb terminated James Braizer and to the one time cost of living pay for Christmas just voted on this past Tuesday.
The senior City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem is Kenny Thompson. He might need to jerk a knot in the Mayor and get things done correctly.
To further Robert Lamb’s intentions to terminate James Brazier, when he was Mayor Elect he attempted to get then Mayor Billy Snell to terminate James Brazier. Mayor Snell said he had no reason to terminate. And Tim Miller has alleged to have made the statement that he was at the swearing in of Lamb because he wanted to see James Brazier fired.
Tim Miller has served as a Dothan Police Officer, then Ashford Police Officer, as a Jackson County Sheriff Deputy, Taylor Police Officer and now a police officer in Columbia.
James Braizer started in 1998 with Houston County Sheriff Department, was Assistant Houston County Jail Commander for 7 years and Houston County Jail Commander for 7 years, retiring after 26.5 consecutive years with Houston County Sheriff Department. FOllowing his retirement with Houston County Sheriff Department, Brazier worked with Jackson County Sheriff Department for two years when he resigned and took the Chief of Police job in Taylor.
TO THE CITY OF TAYLOR COUNCIL AND CITIZENS … the actions of Mayor Robert Lamb could prove to be costly and if the four voting members of the Taylor City Council do not take a strong leadership role we might find Taylor annexed into Rehobeth … which would be a good thing!!!!
