Countermine appointed towns first vice mayor
Jonesborough Alderman Terry Countermine may not have been at the May 14 meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, but that didnt stop his colleagues from appointing him to serve as the towns first-ever vice mayor.
Terry Countermine doesnt happen to be here tonight, so I think hed be a great vice mayor, Mayor Kelly Wolfe joked. In all seriousness, hes a fantastic fellow and a good and faithful servant for Jonesborough.
Last year, the BMA voted to make changes to its town charter that included the creation of a vice mayor position.
If the mayor is not available, it can restrict action for a month, Town Attorney Jim Wheeler explained in February 2011 when the BMA was deciding whether to create the position. In some cases you dont have the ability to even call a meeting without the mayor.
Should the mayor be unavailable to meet at any time, the vice mayor can serve in that role to prevent action from being delayed.
According to Wolfe, Countermine, who was absent from last weeks meeting due to a family obligation, had previously agreed to serve as the towns first vice mayor if chosen to do so.
Alderman Mary Gearhart made the motion to appoint Countermine vice mayor. It was seconded by Alderman Jerome Fitzgerald and received unanimous approval.
When contacted later in the week by the Herald & Tribune, Countermine said he was excited to serve as the towns first-ever vice mayor, but even more excited to have an improved plan in place for BMA meetings.
If Kelly cant make it, now well have an official and legal way of carrying on, Countermine said. And we havent had that before.
Exactly how long Countermine will serve in this role remains up in the air. His term as an alderman is up this year and he has yet to decide whether he will run again for the position.
I was leaning toward not (running again), Countermine said. I was hoping I could find someone that has similar ideals and would pay special attention to the downtown area.
After fielding several calls lately from residents asking him to run for alderman again, Countermine said he is still undecided.
But Ill have to decide pretty quick, he said. The election is coming up.
Countermines seat on the BMA as well as that of Alderman Jereome Fitzgerald are up for election in November. Aldermen Chuck Vest and Mary Gearhart were re-elected to four-year terms in November 2010.