Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Although Mentone Town Marshal Tim Carpenter tendered his resignation Monday night, the Mentone Town Council wants a chance to change his mind before accepting it.
"Is there anything we can do to talk you out of it?" asked council president Ed Rock.
Carpenter told the council that his reasons for quitting were "honesty and truthfulness of some parts of the entity," and cited comments made by the clerk throughout town, "specifically about me," as the main thrust in his decision. He said that even though the matter has been discussed during executive sessions of the council, nothing has been done and he feels that the bad-mouthing "needs to be brought out to better the community."
Carpenter also referred to a recent change in the town's compensatory time policy which he believes was made because of one employee's abuse of comp time: "Rather than correct the problem, you punished everyone."
Council members - including clerk-treasurer Cheryl Phillips' husband, Lynn - voted unanimously to hear what Carpenter has to say before accepting the resignation.
The matter will be addressed during an executive session set for 6 p.m. March 24, prior to Carpenter's tentative last day of March 31. He plans to take his two weeks vacation and a personal day to round out his time with the town and, effective April 1, Deputy Marshal Jim Eads will be named interim marshal "until the town can review the situation and determine what we should do," Rock said.
