STALLINGS — Lynda Paxton took an oath of office Monday to begin her second term as Stallings mayor, yet hasn’t had an office in Town Hall since 2005.

Soon after Paxton was elected to her first term, the mayor’s office was removed from Town Hall and the mayor’s column taken out of the town newsletter. The council decided Monday to bring back both.

Councilman Wyatt Dunn planned to speak on the topic in favor of the change, but was out of town on a business trip. Paxton made only a few comments, saying town residents have responded to the decisions to remove her office and column with “disbelief, embarrassment for the town” and “outrage.”

“I feel like it’s wrong for her not to have an office, and it’s bad government,” Councilwoman Renee Hartis said. Hartis and former Councilwoman Barbara Anne Price asked for a mayor’s office last year, she said. Monday, Hartis recommended having a company evaluate the best way to use space in Town Hall to see if the council could make room for Paxton.

Councilwoman Thelma Privette said she is not opposed to Paxton having an office, but granting her one would cost a lot and it is already close to budget season.

“I don’t know if now is the time,” she said.

New Councilman Harry Stokes said, “four years is long enough without an office.” His comment was met with audience applause.

With town clerk Erinn Nichols out on maternity leave, new Councilman Paul Frost suggested that the mayor temporarily use her office.

“I think she wants to be as accessible as possible,” he said of Paxton. Since the previous council shifted her out of town hall, Paxton has become known for her weekly “Coffee with the Mayor” hours at a local coffee house.

Still, Nichols’ space would be temporary, and Stokes made a motion to create space for Paxton by Dec. 31 with a maximum price tag of $15,000. The motion passed, Privette opposing.

“I think this decision has very little to do with space,” Paxton added; it has to do with her role as mayor. Since losing her office, she said a couple of new staff members have found office space in Town Hall “rather magically.”

“I would like to tell people when they ask me if they can meet me in my office that, ‘Yes, they can,’” she said.

Newcomer Reed Esarove added a motion to reinstate Paxton’s column, saying she should have a space in the newsletter’s next issue. That motion also passed.

Stokes, Frost and Esarove replace former council members Price, Al Graham and Mark Franza.



OTHER BUSINESS:

Stallings Town Council members decided Monday to amend the golf cart ordinance adopted in November. The original text required seatbelts, a requirement removed in the amendment. Since adopting the ordinance, some council members have received calls from golf cart owners who do not want to pay for seatbelts to be installed. Councilwoman Renee Hartis suggested that all passengers under 16 wear helmets, preferring them to look “silly” than get injured. Councilman Harry Stokes said wearing helmets would subject them to “ridicule and criticism” and made a motion to amend the ordinance. Hartis and Councilwoman Thelma Privette opposed.