By Fred Guarino

The Selma Times-Journal

WHITE HALL — The White Hall Town Council finds itself having to replace a second council member in as many weeks, as well as a town clerk.

In a special called meeting held May 30, the council filled the vacant seat of Council member Moses A. Bandy with the appointment of Glenn Mallard.

At its regular council meeting held Thursday, the council accepted the resignation of Council member Walter Bates effective May 30. And Mayor James Walker announced the resignation of clerk Bertha White, which White said is effective July 1.

Bandy said his resignation was due to his health and the stress of dealing with an ill family member. His brother, John Bandy, recently passed away.

Bandy said he had served on the council for 29 years, but would leave the town with the thought “that if they need me for some reason, I would be glad to help them out.”

Bates and councilmember Audrey Peterson declined to cast a vote on the motion to fill Bandy’s seat with Mallard.

“I don’t think we are in line with what we discussed at the last meeting,” Bates said at the time.

When contacted for comment regarding his own resignation, Bates said, “There was a difference of opinion” regarding the way Bandy’s seat was filled. He said names should have been passed around and the council given time to review them. He also said the mayor also needed to “confer with the council more.”

Bates said other council members went along with mayor and that he had no personal problems with Mallard. “It’s done, and you know I said, well it’s time for me to move along,” Bates said.

Walker declared the seat held by Bates vacant and said, “We will go through the proper procedure in replacing councilman Bates.”

Walker also announced the council would redo the procedure for hiring a town clerk at the end of this month, in light of White’s resignation.

He said the position will be advertised and applications taken.

White said she tendered her resignation effective July 1 because Walker “doesn’t want to work with us.” She also said he “comes in and takes everything out of here, works out of his home with it, and it’s not right.”

When asked if he cared to comment on the resignations of Bates and White, Walker decided not to comment.