By Jason C. Mattox

The Town of Como will begin meeting on the first and third Tuesdays at 6 p.m. this month.

For years, the town has had one regularly scheduled meeting.

The second meeting was suggested by Town Clerk Scott Rhines during a budget meeting in September and approved 4-1 with Alderman Ruby Higgenbottom being the lone nay vote.

During a budget meeting Wednesday night, Rhines informed aldermen how he plans to set the agendas for the now twice-monthly meetings.

“I would like to schedule all of the visitors and our new and old business for the first meeting each month,” he said. “Then we could handle the claims docket at the second meeting.”

One Como resident questioned whether residents would be allowed to speak during the second meeting.

“That will be at the discretion of the board,” Rhines responded. “I am simply telling the board what my plans are at this point.”

Higgenbottom told those in attendance she would only be able to attend one meeting each month.

“I don’t get off work until 8 p.m. every night, and I am going to have to change shifts to be here for one meeting, but I will be here for one,” she said.

Mayor Judy Sumner asked if changing the time would help the alderman attend both meetings.

“I didn’t vote for this in the first place,” Higgenbottom said. “But I am going to be able to make one meeting each month.”

In other board business, aldermen approved the 2010 budget just one day before the new fiscal year began.

The budget was adopted by a 2-1 vote. Aldermen Forster Ruhl and Bill Mitchell voted for the proposed budget with Higgenbottom against. Aldermen Clark Gregory and Everette Hill were unable to attend the meeting.

The budget of $1.1 million does not include pay for the mayor and aldermen at this point, but the matter is expected to be discussed again in the coming months.