The Jemison City Council voted Aug. 18 to appoint a temporary city clerk, after former city clerk Sheila Hogge resigned.

Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed explained on Tuesday that Hogge resigned due to finding a job that was closer to her family.

“She loved the city of Jemison, and we loved her,” Reed said. “She wanted a job that would allow her to spend more time with her grandchildren.”

The Advertiser was unable to reach Hogge for comment.

The council voted to appoint Sylvia Singleton as the temporary city clerk for up to 90 days.

In July, the council voted after meeting in executive session for more than one hour to appoint Singleton as the new assistant city clerk, effective immediately.

When the executive session concluded during the July 7 meeting, council members reconvened into regular session, and councilman Rex Bittle made a motion to appoint Singleton as the new assistant city clerk.

Reed said during the July meeting that the posting for the job was done in-house.

The council also met for 50 minutes Aug. 18 in a due process hearing at the request of Bobby Merritt.

Reed asked Merritt if he would like the hearing to be opened or closed to the public.

Merritt initially requested an open hearing, but later a requested a closed hearing.

The council reconvened into regular session and unanimously voted to suspend a city employee indefinitely.

Reed could not publicly identify the employee because the hearing was closed.

Reed said on Tuesday that the employee violated a city policy.

After taking the vote, the council met behind closed doors a second time during an executive session to discuss good name and character.

When the council reconvened into regular session, the council approved a motion to post an in-house position for a maintenance superintendent.

Reed clarified on Tuesday that the position was not created due to the suspension of a city employee from the due process hearing at the Aug. 18 meeting.