Graysville Mayor Charles Kaylor publicly apologized Monday night for misleading Graysville Board members to hire his stepson and for voting to hire the man who was unable to attend a job interview because he was serving time in jail for a statutory rape conviction.

"In hopes of having my son placed in a position with the city, I illustrated an over zealous nature causing me to commit some very serious mistakes," Kaylor read in a letter at the start of the Graysville Board of Mayor and Commissioners' meeting. "I mislead the board in saying that my son was unable to attend the [January] meeting because he was home caring for his sick children. Truth was my son was in the Rhea County Jail where he was serving 30 days. I further mislead in my failure to reveal my son was serving the above mention sentence for the serious fouls of the law. I erred in voting yes for my son when I probably should have abstained."

Kaylor went on to say that in an emergency meeting called to handle controversy caused by the hiring of Mitchell Wilson, he vigorously defended his "indefensible" position.

"In hindsight, I now realize I should have apologized," he explained.

Kaylor said he was motivated by love and a father's deep desire to help his son get his life going in the right direction, but that he realizes his approach was wrong. The mayor ran for a seat on the board because he believed he could contribute positively to town improvement and growth, he said.

"I realize my credibility has been injured, however, I hope not beyond repair," Kaylor read in the letter. "Some may think my resignation should be forthcoming, but because I still want to work for the betterment of Graysville, and I believe I still have the qualities that working closely with the board as I will in the future will be beneficial to the town, I have no plans of resignation."

The mayor then asked board members to accept his apology and state their opinions.

All board members-Vice-Mayor Jimmy Massengill and commissioners Bill Hickman, John Hughes, Charles Elsea and Susan Jones accepted Kaylor's apology. Commissioner Neal Stultz was absent from the meeting.

Although Elsea said the mayor's actions were wrong and misleading, he pledged his support for Kaylor because he doesn't think the incident will ever happen again.

After accepting Kaylor's remorse, Jones commended the mayor for his service to the town stating that he is one of the best mayors Graysville has had.

Hughes said he hopes the mayor's actions won't be repeated and that he wants Kaylor to remain mayor.

"Right now, I believe we have the best board we've had in a long time," he added.

Massengill said he had forgiven Kaylor and commended him for doing a good job as mayor.

"We all make mistakes, no doubt," he added.
Kaylor assured his integrity will not be questioned again.

Massengill had requested a discussion of Section 11 in the town's charter be added to the agenda. The section discusses handling charges against elected officials that can result in an official being removed from office.

In a letter Massengill read he stated that "Kaylor violated our trust in him by withholding valuable information that led this board to make a wrong decision."

The mayor's action brought reproach to the board, the mayor and the town, he explained.
He requested the board reprimand Kaylor to ensure residents that board members strongly disagree with such behavior and that it won't happen again. "There is most always consequences for your mistakes," he explained.

Hughes said a written reprimand could be filed at city hall or his oral apology and their acceptance recorded on tape could suffice. He made a motion, seconded by Elsea, that board members use minutes from the meeting as a reprimand. Massengill said he would also accept just the oral reprimand. Then Elsea withdrew his seconding of the motion and said he would not accept an apology from Kaylor and then reprimand him. Jones said Section 11 does not refer to any type of reprimand.

No further action was taken. However, Graysville Attorney Carol Ann Barron informed board members that they must disclose any information they know and abstain from voting on any issues that they have personal interest in or that may involve one of their immediate family members.

In other business, board members voted unanimously to hire Roger Everett for the full-time position of laborer-a position he has been temporarily filling since November and for which board members had voted to hire Kaylor's stepson.

Elsea said Everett should be able to get his commercial driver's license soon.

Regarding street damage around the site for the new Graysville Elementary School, board members voted to put the Rhea County Commission and the Rhea County School Board on notice of serious damage to streets caused by trucks with more than three axles which have been used by school contractors.

Several months ago, board members voted to waive required bonds for one company, Dillard Construction, which has used vehicles that exceed weight limits for Graysville's streets.
Board members maintain that waiving a bond does not waive any contractor's liability for damages, according to a draft letter prepared by Barron.

Vanessa Dunn can be reached at vdunn@xtn.net.