November 28, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Almost unanimous
The Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen met briefly in a special called session Wednesday night and hired Matt Boss on a 5-1 vote as the new city attorney succeeding Vester Parsley, who resigned last week as the town’s attorney after 17 years of service in that role.
After Mayor Beth Tripp called the meeting to order, she allowed Boss to give an introductory statement to the board.
“I have lived in Alexandria my whole life other than the three years I lived in Alabama to go to law school,” said Boss. “I practice here in Smithville and DeKalb County. I still live in Alexandria. I have served on the city council before, and I am also President of the Fair Association. Boss, a former member of the Liberty station of the DeKalb County Fire Department, said he is no longer an active firefighter but an honorary member.
Although Boss got the nod, Alderman Sherry Tubbs was the lone no vote. Tubbs, who said she didn’t know Boss personally or as an attorney, questioned him on a range of issues from his experience and expertise as a lawyer, whether he had any write ups, his willingness to communicate and be transparent with the board, any potential conflicts of interest he might have; and whether he could withstand attempts by others to bully him and speak up for the board, etc.
“Do you think with all the hats you carry you could properly carry out the role of our city attorney,” asked Tubbs
“I think you need someone who can give you that time and I think I am very well qualified to do that knowing the challenges the city faces,” replied Boss.
Boss said he has been an attorney for almost five years and while his is a general practice, he is familiar with municipal law. Boss said he is in good standing with the board of professional responsibility with no write ups and that as city attorney he would not and could not represent anyone in an action or complaint against the town.
Aldermen voting in favor of Boss being the city attorney were Luke Prichard, Bobby Simpson, Jonathon Tripp, Jeff Ford, and Tiffany Robinson.
Meanwhile, after the meeting the mayor and aldermen rescheduled a workshop for Thursday, December 5 at 5 p.m. at city hall to discuss the pros and cons of leasing the doctor’s building in Alexandria for the new location of the police department using a portion of the salaries of the police chief and an officer for up to two years to fund the lease.