The Advocate and Democrat

With the property tax increase battle over, the Sweetwater Mayor and Board of Commissioners held the regular July meeting Monday before only a small crowd.

The commission heard a request from attorney Joe Crabtree, who asked that the city pay former firefighter Clint Brookshire for two workdays while he was suspended in March.

Crabtree said Brookshire had been suspended for two days in March for not responding to two calls while he was off duty.

But Crabtree said the department’s policy only required off-duty fireman if paged to respond “if at all possible” and only if they could respond safely to a call.

Crabtree said when Brookshire did not respond to a call at a nursing home on Feb. 26, the fireman was taking care of his toddler son and there was no one else who could stay with the child.

The attorney said Brookshire failed to respond to an off-duty page just days later because he was in Loudon having dental work completed.

According to Crabtree, Brookshire was under nitrous oxide and could not have driven safely to a call.

Brookshire’s lawyer also said Fire Department supervisors failed to follow policy by not giving the fireman written notice at least 24 hours before his suspension.

“He had to ask for it later,” Crabtree said.

Crabtree said he understood that commissioners were under advisement by City Attorney John Cleveland not to respond to him during the meeting, but he closed his presentation with a request that Brookshire be given pay for the two days he was suspended.

Brookshire in March left the Fire Department for another job.

In other business, the five commissioners had no motion or discussion on the Economic Development Board’s recommendation the city attempt to purchase part of the Loomis farm on the new Highway 322 connector.

The commission accepted bids from Craighead Limestone and Harrison Construction for Street Department supplies.

The commission met as the Beer Board and approved an on-premise beer permit for Timmy’s Beef and Dawgs on 1021 N. Main Street.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing and called meeting at City Hall at 5 p.m., Monday, July 21, to make a bookkeeping amendment to the budget that just ended June 30 and an amendment to the budget that got under way July 1.

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