SILVERHILL, Alabama — With the possibility of litigation looming on the horizon, the Silverhill Town Council voted unanimously to terminate Police Chief Kim Wasdin during a specially called meeting Thursday night at the Silverhill Town Hall.

For the second time in less than a week, town hall was filled to standing room only. Following a two-hour meeting on Monday, Jan. 11, most of which was done in an executive session, Thursday’s vote followed about 45 minutes of tense public discussion.

After a brief outburst before the meeting started, Silverhill Mayor Tim Wilson opened Thursday’s meeting by asking town attorney Josh Myrick to explain the procedure followed by the town to bring disciplinary action against Wasdin.

While employees with the town are hired “at-will” meaning that they can be terminated with “good cause, bad cause or no cause,” Myrick said, the council has to follow rules set aside by state statute.

After a special meeting of the town council on Tuesday, Nov. 24, called by Wilson, Myrick agreed to draft a letter to serve to Wasdin asking for her resignation and explaining possible disciplinary action.

On Monday, Dec. 7, Myrick said Wasdin had expressed her desire to hold a disciplinary hearing with the town and set a date for Dec. 22. The hearing was later changed to Jan. 11 at the request of Wasdin’s attorney, Narissa Nelson.

With all council members present, Wilson called the meeting to order Monday with Mayor Pro Tem Jared Lyles immediately calling for an executive session, which included Wasdin, her attorney, Myrick and town clerk Patricia Bankester.

After nearly two hours, during which time two people were called back into the executive session, the council returned with Lyles immediately making a motion, stating the council needed time to deliberate.

“I understand that a lot of people were upset by that,” Myrick said, “but according to the statute, the hearing can be held in an executive session and that’s what the council chose to do.”

Attorneys for Wasdin were then given an opportunity Thursday to address the council with Nelson stating that Wasdin was not given due process under the law.

“I asked for more time to prepare and I also requested more information and up until now I have not been given any more information,” Nelson said. “General statements just won’t cut it and if you proceed with the action I think you’re going to take, you can expect a lawsuit to be filed in the near future.”

Nelson stated that according to the League of Municipalities, Wasdin was allowed to have a court reporter present during the hearing at her expense. A court reporter was brought to the meeting on Monday, but was not allowed in the executive session, Nelson said.

Nelson also claimed that they were not allowed to bring witnesses into the proceedings.

When asked for more information, Wilson first cited incompetence, stating that he had been contacted by their insurance company in October, stating that Wasdin had not been properly filing reports.

Wilson also cited insubordination as one of the reasons.

“She repeatedly would not do what we (the council) asked her to do,” he said, “or she would change it and a few months later, she would go back to doing things the way she wanted them done.”

Wilson also said he had received written complaints stating that Wasdin had acted unprofessionally in dealing with the public.

Attorney Lloyd Taylor also addressed town council members during Thursday’s meeting, stating that he had been retained as Wasdin’s attorney, but was told by Wasdin that she was informed if she showed up to the meeting with him as her representation the council would “side with the mayor” against Wasdin.

“If I find that any of you discussed this matter in private outside a public forum, that is a direct violation of the open meeting laws,” Taylor said. “If that is the case, I will personally see to it that you are removed from office and I will not only file a lawsuit against the town, I will sue each and every one of you personally. You can get whomever you want to represent you, but I will make sure that you personally have to pay for it.”

Council member Wayne Gruenloh made a statement on behalf of the town council.

“This is a very difficult situation and I think I speak for everyone here by saying that we have done everything we possibly could to be forthright in this,” Gruenloh said. “Everyone on the town council has nothing but the best interests of the town at heart.”

Gruenloh then made a motion to terminate Wasdin as chief of police which was seconded by council member Shirley Stephens. The motion passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Wilson said after Thursday’s meeting that the town would immediately begin advertising for a new police chief. The measure would most likely be voted on during the council’s next meeting which was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Wilson said the town has also contacted Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Jr., who has agreed to provide support for the town’s police department until the position of chief of police can be filled.

The town also has a vacancy for a full-time patrol officer, which is expected to be filled in the coming weeks, Wilson said. At full staff the town’s police department includes a chief and two full-time patrol officers.

When asked about an assistant chief, Wilson said, “We haven’t had an assistant chief since I’ve been on the town council.”

A native of Stapleton and a resident of Elberta, Wasdin is a 20-year veteran of law enforcement having served as an officer with the Elberta, Foley and Summerdale police departments. She was hired as a patrol officer in Silverhill under Chief Alvin Coggins before becoming chief in 2007.

Editor's note: Word of the special meeting Thursday in which the Silverhill Town Council voted to terminate Police Chief Kim Wasdin came after the deadline for Friday's Baldwin Times, in which it was reported that a decision had yet to be made in the case. Gulf Coast Media regrets any confusion this may have caused.