By Rupert Howell
Long-time Batesville volunteer fire chief Tim Taylor’s employment as Batesville’s first full-time chief was confirmed Friday morning when Mayor Jerry Autrey withdrew a veto that would have at least temporarily blocked the selection, following the Oct. 3 vote by aldermen to put Taylor in that position.
Following lengthy executive sessions Tuesday and Friday, Oct. 7 and 10, excluding the press and others from the meeting room, Batesville Assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell explained Autrey’s veto had come about due to state mandated qualifications not being included in Taylor’s qualifications.

Mitchell said that after he had taken an extensive look at the law, he determined the employment of Taylor as a full-time fire chief would meet the law if all requirements were met within one year.

“The mayor’s concerns were alleviated by Mississippi statutes,” Mitchell announced following Friday morning’s executive session when Autrey withdrew his veto.

“I think it was the admirable thing to do,” said Alderman Eddie Nabors after Mitchell explained that a veto requires a three-day waiting period before being acted upon, offering aldermen time to re-think their decision.

A mayoral veto requires four votes for an override and although a unanimous vote for Taylor was originally recorded, insiders hinted that unanimity followed a ‘straw vote’ that showed Taylor had only a simple majority of aldermen’s votes.

Contacted after Friday’s meeting, Taylor said he suspected the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards requirement for paid firefighters to undergo a “firefighters basic training,” that he hasn’t taken was the requirement in question.

Fire department administrators are not included in the definition according to Minimum Standards Rules and Regulations for Mississippi Fire Personnel.

Grandfather status is also applicable to personnel employed before January 1, 1991 according to the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board.

Mitchell also explained that no board action had taken place following last Tuesday’s vote approving Taylor because even though the mayor’s veto was submitted to the board’s clerk, there no action was taken before the three day wait period or its withdrawal.