Valley police chief, city administrator out

Monday, Valley City Council has voted not to renew contracts for the embattled chief of police and the current city administrator.

By: Katie Stallcup Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: May 19, 2009

Valley Mayor Arnold Leak was dismayed and slightly panicked Monday night. His city is without both a police chief and a city administrator.
The city council voted at its rescheduled regular meeting not to extend the contracts for police chief Michael Taylor and city administrator Tim Bryan, both of which expired Sunday. The council voted unanimously not to extend Taylor’s contract. The vote was split on Bryan’s contract, with Leak and council members O’Neal Shaw, Ray Edwards and Jimmy Gilson in favor of the extension. Council members Jim Jones, Dr. Elizabeth Lyons, Deborah Chambers and Henry Cooper voted against it.
Taylor has been on paid administrative leave since April 14 after the city received a claim about the mistreatment of a juvenile by police. An external investigation into that incident and another juvenile-related claim are still pending.
Leak said he voted against extending the police chief’s contract because Taylor’s operation of the department wasn’t what the city was looking for. Bryan was serving as interim chief until Sunday. Lt. Frank Montroy has been appointed acting police chief while the city searches for another.
Monday’s votes also left the city without a city administrator, a role Leak will shoulder temporarily.
“It’s a bad position to be in,” Leak said after the meeting. “Basically, we’re in a state of chaos ... I think Tim Bryan has been the best I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. I’ve lost my right arm.”
Leak said he’s especially worried about the split in the council and how that might affect future projects. He’s going to do his best to move the city forward, he said.
“If I wake up feeling any different tomorrow, they might be looking for a new mayor, too,” he said.
Chambers said she didn’t have anything against Bryan, but she doesn’t think the city needs a city administrator.
“The city administrator was hired based on certain things, and those things are not happening right now,” Chambers said. “All the growth. Somewhere down the road, maybe a few months, a year, we may need one, but not at this time.”