A new alderman has been appointed to the Mansfield City Council.
Mansfield resident Buddy Black, 66, has taken the place of Nathan Sterling as Ward 2, Position 1 alderman on the City Council. Sterling announced his resignation during the Mansfield City Council meeting Jan. 18, according to an article previously published in the Times Record.
During its Jan. 25 meeting, the City Council asked if anyone in that ward was interested in filling the vacancy. One man in the audience mentioned Black, who was also present. The council then passed a motion to appoint Black as the new alderman.
Black was sworn in after the meeting by Mansfield Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker. He has been a resident of Mansfield since 1983.
"I've lived in the area most of my adult life," Black said.
A retired salesman, Black said he has been on the Mansfield Planning Commission for more than 20 years. However, he will resign from his position at the commission's meeting in March.
Black said he wanted to take Sterling's place. He would like to bring healing to Mansfield in his newfound position and get the city back into a favorable light out in the public.
"Everywhere I go, you know, if I'm in Fort Smith, if I go up to Fort Smith to work out or wherever, and somebody knows where I'm from, you know, it seems like they've mentioned all the negative publicity that we've received, and I don't like that," Black said. "I love Mansfield, and I want to, you know, certainly try to do what I can to help the city of Mansfield in any way that I can."
Black said he would also try to work as diligently as he can to try to get the Mansfield wastewater treatment plant in good working order. His first City Council meeting as alderman took place on Thursday.
Mansfield has been rocked by controversy since December when a storm tore off part of the top of the town's water tower, subsequent problems with the town's wastewater treatment plant and allegations by City Council members that Mayor Larry Austin is a micromanager who makes it impossible for town employees to do their jobs.
On Jan. 19, the City Council voted to change the city's personnel policy handbook to limit the mayor's powers and transfer those powers to the recorder/treasurer. The town also recently settled a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed against it because of discussions between council members prior to the vote to remove the mayor's powers.
Walker said Black will serve out the remainder of Sterling's term, which expires at the end of this year. The yearly salary of a Mansfield alderman is a set fee of $595.