Multiple Addison town employees and city council member resign for various reasons

ADDISON - The town of Addison is dealing with multiple resignations from various departments, all within the past week, including the police chief, police officer/school resource officer, a town council member and the water department employee.
After approving the resignation of Police Chief Luke Sheppard at their January meeting, the council voted Monday, Feb. 3, to hire former full-time chief Mitchell Woodard as part-time police chief.
A vacancy was also declared Monday on the council, after long-time council member Brandon Womack resigned due to moving outside the town limits, town officials said.
The remainder of Womack’s term, which would have expired at the municipal elections later this year, will be filled by appointment by the council, which could also decided to allow the seat to remain vacant until the next municipal election, which will be in August, town officials noted.
Town Clerk Cindy Luker explained the council has 60 days from the time the vacancy is declared  to
make an appointment to Womack’s seat, or wait until the municipal election,since less than a year remains of the term.
The resignation of Tim Williams was also approved by the council effective February 14, as the town’s police officer.  Williams has also served the past two years as school resource officer for both Addison Elementary and Addison High School.
A decision was not made on Williams’ full-time replacement Monday, although the council decided to begin accepting applications for a full-time police officer, as well as voted separately to hire more part-time officers for the department.
The resignation of water department employee Brent Porter was also approved Monday. Porter has accepted a job with higher pay in another area, Porter stated.
The council Monday night decided to accept applications for both the police and water departments until the March council meeting.
Council member George Palmer stressed that it should be stated in a policy that water department employees are required to attend classes to advance their training.
“If we hire them, it’s not whether they go to school, it’s they are going to school,” Palmer said.
Palmer then turned around and addressed Water Superintendent Charles Moore. “We’re not trying to run anybody out, push anybody out, but somebody has got to start learning. Somebody has got to start  getting licensed.”