James Elected High Springs Mayor

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Following the City election, Commissioners held a reorganization meeting on Nov. 19 to seat the new Commission. Newly elected Commissioners are sworn in, the mayor and vice mayor are elected, committee members are appointed, check signers are established and Commission salaries are approved.

The Nov. 19 meeting began with Mayor Byran Williams calling the meeting to order. As there was no old business for the previous Commission to address, Williams adjourned the 2019-20 City Commission meeting.

Deputy City Clerk Angela Stone administered the oath of office to the newly-elected Commissioner Ross Ambrose and re-elected Commissioner Gloria James.

City Manager Joel DeCoursey, Jr. called the first meeting of the 2020-21 City Commission to order. Following roll call, DeCoursey accepted nominations for mayor, at which time Gloria James was nominated and subsequently elected mayor.

Mayor James assumed the gavel and accepted nominations for vice mayor. Commissioner Linda Jones was nominated and elected as vice mayor. James has served as vice mayor twice and mayor during the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Addressing the agenda under New Business, Ambrose was appointed chair to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Jones was appointed as vice chair.

Robert Riddle and Ronald Wilson were elected to serve on the Planning and Zoning Board. Suzie Clark and Candace Webb were elected to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Following the seating of the Commission each year, the Commission authorizes personnel to sign checks for the City accounts as well as for investment documents on behalf of the City. The City Code of Ordinances delineates signers as the mayor, vice mayor, city manager and city clerk.

Resolution 2020-M also received unanimous approval. This resolution sets the annual salaries for the commissioners, vice mayor and mayor for the coming year. No salary change was budgeted for these positions in the current budget. Commissioners and the vice mayor's salaries remain at $900 annually and the mayor's salary remains at $1,000 annually.

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