City approves museum grant plan
Published 5:00 am Monday, October 11, 2004
Brookhaven aldermen Friday voted to apply for a $25,000 grant toassist with an estimated $50,000 renovation of the MilitaryMemorial Museum in downtown.
Citing a conservation with Paul Jackson, who helped found themuseum, Mayor Bob Massengill said the renovations to the city-ownedbuilding could be done for around $50,000. Renovations wouldinclude structural improvements to the roof, windows and otherparts of the building.
The maximum grant amount is $150,000, but any grant funds wouldhave to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the city. Massengill saidthe proposed $25,000 match is not in the city budget, but thebudget could be revised.
Alderman at large Les Bumgarner suggested the possibility of thecity’s contribution being in-kind assistance.
“It’s our building, we need to take care of it,” Bumgarnersaid.
Ward Six Alderman John E. “Buddy” Allen pointed out that themuseum has attracted visitors from out of town.
“From that perspective, it needs to look as good as it could,”Allen said.
Friday’s meeting was the continuation of Tuesday night’s meetingin which aldermen discussed some personnel matters in executivesession. After the museum vote and getting an update on countyaction toward an infrastructure financing plan for a Home Depot,aldermen closed Friday’s meeting to discuss personnel matters inthe fire department and cemetery department.
Following the closed meeting, aldermen voted 4-0 to reinstatecemetery department employee Hosmer Cameron. In early August, theboard voted to follow a city policy and terminate Cameron, who hadbeen deemed to be at fault in two accidents within a five-yearperiod.
However, City Attorney Joe Fernald said Friday the board inAugust was unaware of a provision that would allow suspensioninstead of termination for violation of the city policy.
Friday’s board vote allowed Cameron to be reinstated as of Sept.1. Fernald said he would be contacting Cameron or hisrepresentative regarding the terms of his reinstatement, whichinclude a defensive driving course.
Aldermen took action on the fire department personnelmatter.