The new McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be sworn in this Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. during a special called meeting.
Confirmation of election results was not received in time for board’s regular meeting Nov. 22. The next regular session is Dec. 13. However, Mayor Jimmy Haley expressed a desire not to wait that long to swear in the new board.
“On Nov. 29 we can swear in the new board and bid farewell to Alderman Jimmy Bonner, who will be leaving our board,” said Haley.
At that time, the old board will adjourn sine die.
Adjourn sine die means adjournment “without a day.” In other words, this particular group of delegates will not meet again. After the board finishes its business, it will adjourn sine die. The recently elected members are then sworn in by city recorder Shirley Durham and are seated. The process happens after every election involving city board members.
Being sworn in again are Haley and Aldermen Ben Newman and Mike Neal. They won their bids for re-election. They will be joined by newcomer Kate Medley Alsbrook.
Once the new board is seated, Haley can, if he chooses on that night, nominate a vice mayor. His nomination must receive majority approval. The vice mayor acts in the absence of the mayor. Newman has been vice mayor for four years, appointed in 2012 and 2014.
Haley also selects, without board approval, which aldermen will sit on each of the city’s six committees and which aldermen will chair the three-person committees. Board approval is not needed.