Hensley resigns from city council

Birdie Hensley has resigned her seat on the Electric City Council.

She stated in her resignation letter, delivered last Friday, that she thought she could do more for the city as a private citizen than by being on the council.

Hensley took the opportunity to zing Mayor Jerry Sands, City Clerk Jackie Perman, city insurance carrier Canfield & Associates and the city’s attorney.

A lot of the discord started when the council held a retreat in Ephrata, with an emphasis on the roles different people play in city government.

It was emphasized at the time that council members are the legislative branch of city government and the mayor is the administrator and directs the staff.

In her letter, Hensley took issue with the fact that to get anything on the Tuesday night council agenda, she had to have the issue to the city clerk by the Thursday before. Yet, she stated, the city clerk or the mayor could put items on the agenda even at the last minute.

She took issue with an incident in which she had used her name on city letterhead on something not approved by the council or mayor beforehand.

She also didn’t like it when the city’s insurance agent said she should socialize with other council members after a meeting.

Hensley wrote that she had to deal with Perman directly, and not the deputy clerk, or she is called, even while on vacation, about it.

She also stated that she didn’t think the city attorney should have acted as moderator at the council retreat.

“I feel with the suggestions from the insurance person, the advice of the city lawyer, and advice of the city clerk and staff, I can no longer be effective on the council,” she wrote.

Her letter said her resignation was immediate.