Degges ousted as Baldwin city administrator

Karen Degges was ousted as the city administrator of the City of Baldwin on Friday.

This action came after a failed attempt to obtain four council votes in favor of including money in the 2012-13 budgets for the city administrator’s payroll and benefits and the re-appointment of Degges as city administrator.

Approximately 20 people turned out for the called meeting on Friday evening.

At the council meeting on June 25, the budget was approved with funding for Degges position included and Degges was re-appointed as city administrator. However, Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Parrish issued a letter of veto on both of the motions approved by the council.

On Friday, council members Joe Elem, Dustin Mealor and Robert Bohannon voted to override the vetoes, Parrish opposed and council member Theron Ayers was absent from the meeting. Four votes are required in order for a veto to be overthrown.

Before the vote was taken on Friday, the council met in closed session for approximately one hour to discuss personnel.

When asked who would handle the duties assigned to Degges, Mayor Jerry Neace said, “The duties will shift to me until the council decides what they want for the City of Baldwin.”

Neace added Degges being let go had nothing to do with her job performance.

City attorney David Syfan said a vote to override the vete could theoretically be brought up again in the 35-day period from the initial date of the veto.