Jackson Free Press

The Jackson City Council at least temporarily agreed on something when they voted Monday to confirm three mayoral picks for top city positions. Council members Frank Bluntson, Charles Tillman, Kenneth Stokes and Margaret Barrett-Simon voted to confirm Assistant Chief Vernon Hughes as fire chief in a 4-to-0 vote, with Marshand Crisler abstaining.

"Vernon Hughes' record speaks for itself. I've known him a long time, and I'm glad to see him up for consideration for fire chief," said Crisler, who said he abstained because he had helped interview potential fire chiefs. He also abstained from the contentious Todd Chandler confirmation vote, which failed despite pressure from Mayor Melton.

The council questioned Hughes briefly over a problem with a certification test, reported first by the Jackson Free Press in May, when the Mississippi State Minimum Standards Board voted down the city's Candidate Physical Ability Test. Hughes, claiming he was following the advice of a board member, allowed this year's graduating class to take the test without direct supervision of a representative of the board.

Hughes assured the council Monday that the Minimum Standard's Board test rejection was only a mild setback and that the Jackson Fire Department class of 2007 would soon graduate.

Newly approved, Hughes said one of the first issues he wanted to tackle was expanding the fire department forces and his command staff. Hughes said he wants to increase the current head count of about 365 firefighters to 450, and pointed out that a new class of about 25 recruits receiving certification this year will only replace the ranks of about 40 firefighters who are eligible to retire.

"We'll need more classes graduating, and soon, if we're going to meet the minimum safety requirements set for the department," Hughes said.

Hughes confirmed that Chandler is serving as "interim assistant chief," following Melton's vow last week to keep the demoted assistant chief at a fire-chief level salary.

The council also confirmed Planning and Development Land Use Planning Manager Ester Ainsworth as director of the Planning and Development Department with a 4-to-0 vote, and appointed Jackson resident George Irvin to the Airport Authority with a 5-to-0 vote.

Previous Comments

ID

67868

Comment

All's well that ends well? Yeah, right.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-06T07:54:06-06:00