By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE - Saying it was the first time he had used the authority in 31 years in office, Mayor Jim Sells announced Tuesday he had vetoed a decision to resurface Broadway.
    The Rogersville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted last month to accept a $109,571 bid from Lyons Construction for the paving project.  The BMA received two proposals for the paving project, the bid from Lyons and a $112,995 bid from APAC.
    After several minutes of reviewing the town's current budget during the May 13 meeting it was determined the town had slightly more than $96,000 available for street projects.
    In a written notice to the board, dated June 9, Sells stated he vetoed the board's decision to accept the low bid and award a contract to allow city officials to determine the condition of other streets "in order to include those with the greatest need for repair in the 2008 summer paving
project."
    According to City Attorney Bill Phillips, the BMA had the authority to override the veto, by a two-thirds vote.  Board members took no action and did not discuss the veto.
    The BMA approved on first reading a 2008-2009 budget that, according to City Recorder Bill Lyons, is out of balance by approximately $1.5 million.
    "If you go with the budget the way it is now you will be pulling $1.5 million out of prior year reserves," Lyons said, noting the town had slightly more than $2.5 million in reserves at the start of the current budget year.
    Although the board approved the budget Tuesday, city officials agreed the document will need to be reviewed and cuts will need to be made before it is approved for a third and final reading.
    "I think every department should look for cuts," Alderman Bennie Floyd said.
    Lyons told the board he currently has a vacant clerk's position that he may consider leaving vacant and he is also going to calculate the savings that would result from reducing a proposed three percent employee pay raise to a two percent raise.
    "Right now I would say everything is on the table," the recorder said.
    The BMA will consider the budget for a second reading on June 24 at 5 p.m. at city hall.
    In other action:
    The BMA voted to place Clayton Armstrong on the Historic Preservation Commission Board, filling a vacancy left by the April death of his sister, Corinne Armstrong Reimann.
    Approved a request to solicit bids for a new radio system to serve the police and fire departments, with the bids to be considered in July.  The 2008-2009 budget proposal contains $21,000 for the new
equipment.
    Authorized the Rogersville Water Commission to apply for grant funds through the Economic Development Administration and the Fast Trac Infrastructure Development program to upgrade the water and waste water systems serving Sam Dong, in the Rogersville Industrial Park.