Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407200111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Frith was reappointed by Town Council without much of the controversy that has surrounded his job recently in the town of 235.
When council decided to look at other options to fill the town attorney's position, however, acting Town Attorney Eric Ferguson decided he'd had enough.
Ferguson, who works for the Rocky Mount firm of Hutcherson and Rhodes, submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday to Boones Mill Mayor Steve Palmer. The firm had supplied legal counsel to the town for more than 20 years.
Ferguson was not happy with a suggestion at the meeting by Councilman Doug Parsons that council "shop around" for other law firms. Parsons said that "overtones of resentment" were felt between council members and Ferguson's firm, and that there had been "rocky" points in the relationship.
The short letter refers to the statement but does not go into detail.
Asked if the firm was tired of political infighting on council, Ferguson said: "I'll let the letter speak for itself."
Palmer said Parsons "wounded the town" when he made his statement.
"It's a shame that a person who has attended only a few council meetings thinks that he knows more than our town attorney," he said.
Palmer said a special council meeting has been set for Monday night to address the situation.
Parsons did not elaborate Tuesday on his comments about the law firm.
"I don't think the statements I made were untrue," he said.
Council voted 3-1 Monday to reappoint Frith to his full-time job. Parsons' motion reappoints Frith as the town's sergeant, as called for in the town charter. But Parsons also included wording that Frith "will be addressed" as a lieutenant - the designation Frith wears on his police uniforms.
The well-known 1991 Camaro sports car that serves as Frith's police vehicle was put up for sale for a moment Monday, but quickly gained a reprieve. Council voted to advertise the car, but another motion was passed minutes later to put the sale on hold.
Parsons argued that a late-model Ford police vehicle the town also owns is not capable of catching speeders on a day-to-day basis.
After the meeting, Frith said it makes no difference to him if the Camaro, now pushing 42,000 miles, is sold or not.
"We'll just have to get a car that can do the job," he said.
by CNB