CLARKESVILLE - Clarkesville City Councilman Casey Ramsey, who served as mayor pro tem in 2015, will continue in that additional role in 2016.
Councilwoman Barrie Aycock nominated Ramsey and made the motion at Monday night's meeting. Councilman Franklin Brown seconded, and there was no opposition.
Ramsey will continue to serve as mayor pro tem for all of 2016, even after a new mayor is elected in March. Ramsey currently is conducting meetings and other business following the death of Mayor Terry Greene.
Monday night's city council meeting began with a moment of silence to honor Greene's memory.
Ramsey and newly-seat Councilman Bruce Lewallen were sworn in by City Attorney Janney Sanders, then Ramsey read a proclamation and presented a plaque to now-former Councilman Tommy Burgess.
While much of the meeting went on with little mention of the loss of the city's top elected official, there were a couple of notable exceptions.
Mid-way through his monthly report, Clarkesville Fire Chief Jerry Palmer paused in acknowledgment of the pain still felt by city officials, employees and residents as a result of Greene's death.
Members of Clarkesville Fire Department, with officers in dress uniform, attended the council meeting, standing quietly in the back of the room.
"They're here for one special reason, because for the almost eight years I've been here you guys have been - we've leaned on you, we've counted on you," said Fire Chief Jerry Palmer. "They're here to let you know that in a time like we're going through now, we're still here. We're still going to look over your shoulders in this fire department, and I'm sure I speak for every department here."
The meeting concluded with a reflection on Greene's legacy by Brown. When no residents spoke during the public comment portion of the agenda, Brown asked to speak.
"As Jerry said, it seemed a little strange here tonight," Brown said. "I just want to personally go on record as saying how much I appreciated what a fantastic job that Terry Greene did as mayor for this town, and he's been truly missed."
Several others in the room verbally expressed their agreement.
"Our goal is to continue with the legacy and the programs that he had led us in putting into place, and I assure you that we will continue the same path that we had chosen to do so without any hiccups," Brown said. "He'll be truly missed. I enjoyed working with him very much."
