TAYLOR: On Tuesday the new Taylor Mayor and City Council met. The first order of business was Former Taylor Police Chief James Brazier appeal of his termination by the Mayor in less than 45 minutes from taking the oath of office.
Former Taylor Police Chief James Brazier appeared before the City Council and said had no comments until his attorney was present. The appeal is continued until the next regular City Council Meeting.
For 8 year Billy Snell served as Mayor of the City of Taylor. A lot of progress was made and improvements during the 8 years of service under Mayor Billy Snell. Deciding not to seek re-election, Ordinance Complaince Officer Robert Lamb was elected Mayor.
It has been rumored for several weeks that Lamb was going to terminate Taylor Police Chief James Brazier. In fact Lamb is reported to have attempted to get then Mayor Billy Snell to terminate Brazier but he refused saying that Brazier was doing a good job. The rumors were also going around that Robert Lamb was going to have former Taylor Police Officer Tim Miller as Police Chief.
On Monday, November 3, at 8:00 AM, with former Taylor Police Officer Tim Miller present to watch, Robert Lamb took the oath of office as Mayor. By 8:45 AM Brazier was termiated and walking from the police department building. Miller remained in City Hall until after 10:35 AM.
On Monday evening the new Mayor and City Council met. There was extensive discussion, out of the public eye, in the actions of the new Mayor, Robert Lamb. The new council was reported to be very upset with the actions of the Mayor, and his being informed that he had overstepped his authority. The new council is very upset that Mayor Robert Lamb’s actions has subjected the City of Taylor to a potential lawsuit. Reports are that Lamb said that he felt he had been given some bad advise.
According to some in the legal field, they say that Lamb has potentially exposed himself in his official capacity as Mayor and his personal capacity as an individual exposed himself to civil liability. And some in the legal field said that exposure could potentially reach to Mayor Robert Lamb’s personal assets based on his actions and comments made prior to taking office. The rumors about Lamb’s intentions floated for about a month before he took office and his personal dislike for former Police Chief James Brazier. Mayor Robert Lamb did not ask the City Council or inform them of his intentions prior to his terminating Brazier and having him leave walking home.
In other business, there was a vacancy on the Taylor City Council. Mayor Lamb and the members of the City Council appointed Brandon Martin to the vacancy. Except for Councilman John Milner IV because he was absent from the meeting.
The City Council re-appointed Teresa Adams as City Clerk. Adams is retiring and made it clear appointment was temporary until she got finished training the new City Clerk. The City Council re-appointed Ann Baxter as Magistrate for the City of Taylor.
There was no mention on re-appointment of court officials such as Municipal Court Judge, prosecutor, defense counsel and City Attorney. Currently Attorney Farrest Taylor is Municipal Judge, which is expected to be re-appointed. Gary Maxwell is prosecutor and Denny Holloway is public defender.
There was no one appointed as Acting Police Chief for the City of Taylor. So apparently no one is in charge of the Police Department since the termination of James Brazier as Police Chief.
The council elected Kenny Thompson as Mayor Pro Tempore. Thompson has served several terms as a City Council Member for Taylor.
