Norris Council sets rare Friday meeting
Will discuss replacing city manager, who resigned
SCOTT HACKLER
Mayor Chris Mitchell said on Monday that under his emergency powers as mayor, he had directed Hackler to post notices of the special meeting.
The council was already set to have a public hearing at 6 p.m. Friday on the fiscal year 2023 budget, which was passed on first reading by the council during its regular meeting June 13.
Another special called meeting of the council will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, June 27, to consider passing the new budget on second and final reading. The new budget goes into effect July 1.
All three meetings are open to the public, and will be held in the normal council meeting room at the Norris Community Building on Chestnut Drive.
Hackler submitted his resignation via email to city officials and the media on Wednesday, June 15, nearly two days after a contentious City Council meeting, during which he was engaged in heated exchanges with council members Will Grinder and Loretta Painter over issues concerning the proposed new budget.
Grinder, who was elected to the council in November 2020, said Monday that he is sorry to see Hackler go.
“He’s been doing a great job overall,” Grinder said. “I really hate to see him leave. I am saddened.”
Painter said of Hackler’s decision to quit: “I just wish him the best of luck.”
Here is Hackler’s resignation statement:
“Due to health reasons and after careful evaluation I cannot successfully fulfill the duties of City Manager for the City of Norris. Recent changes in my overall health condition have changed my ability to tolerate the long work hours and stresses associated with this job as currently configured. I hereby tender my resignation effective at 11 p.m. on Monday 27 June.
“After that date I offer my support as a part time employee one day a week (10 hours) at my current hourly rate through August 31, 2022, if approved and desired by city council. During the transition, all boards, commissions, and council members should be respectful of the staff needs to continue to operate the city business. While it is not my desire or intent to add stress to the staff, this change will add stress to an already stressful environment. “How do I help you be successful today?” is the question to ask yourself to enable the support necessary for everyone around you. Your actions and attitude should support that question.
“I wish to emphasize my appreciation for the city/water staff, boards, and commissions that I have worked closely with since April of 2019. I will miss their support and positive work environment generated by their hard work and good nature. It is very hard for me to leave this part of the city manager job. Very Hard!”
Hackler, who is 63, said Friday in his office at the Community Building that he had experienced some recent health issues, and felt that continuing in the city manager position would put too much stress on him.
But he did offer to the mayor in a Thursday meeting between the two to continue in the position at least on a part-time basis until a successor is found.
“I’m still carrying the title until they get someone else in the position,” he told The Courier News. “I will still be signing the checks.”
Hackler said he has accepted a part-time consulting position at the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge, where he had served on the fire department until his retirement about five years ago. His last 17 years there were spent as fire chief.
He said he will be working for Y-12 about 30 hours a week.
A native of Norris, Hackler was named city manager in April 2019. He said that until he recently moved into his mother’s former home in the Bethel community, he had lived all of his life inside the Norris city limits.
He said his position as a Norris volunteer firefighter, which he began in 1983, gave him the training and experience to obtain the paid firefighter position at Y-12. Before that, Hackler said, he was a heavy-equipment operator for 11 years.