Mayor Pro-Tem asks for patience, vows consistency going forward

Despite recent changes in city leadership, Greenfield’s city council and Mayor Pro-Tem Brian Fox asked for patience from community members while also vowing their commitment to as much consistency as possible and the town they love.

Fox asked those at the council meeting to “bear with us, we’re going to get through this.”

The mayor pro-tem said several have encouraged him that he should become mayor. He said he has no problem with that, “if that’s what the town and the council want.”

“Bear with us. We’ve got a lot going on, from the fire department and all kinds of things that will have to be kept going, otherwise we’re going to lose it through the cracks,” Fox said. “I would also like to give a shoutout to Jessica [Foster] for coming over and helping us out. She’s been a Godsend.”

Fox thanked new city administrator Michelle Carns, whose hiring was formalized during the meeting.

The council also voted to advertise for a new city clerk.

A new mayor is expected to be appointed Tuesday, July 22.

Fox said that he can be mayor pro-tem through the end of August, at which point he or someone would have to be appointed mayor. He is one of the council seats that expires this election cycle, which ends at the close of this year. He said he is committed to staying on the council if the need exists.

During the meeting, the council reviewed and approved an agreement for the building of the new fire station, heard a presentation on a conceptual design for a new pool with a financial overview, approved a pay application for the downtown revitalization grant project and set a public hearing for next Tuesday for a sewer slip lining grant application.