POSTELWAIT OUSTED AS CLAY PSD CHAIR

(05/12/2005)
New board ousts Clay-Roane chair

By Jim Cooper, Editor

Times Record-Roane County Reporter

Controversial Clay-Roane Public Service District chairman Melissa Postelwait has been replaced.

PSD board members met Saturday afternoon in Clay for an emergency session that included a reorganization of the five-member board.

Dave Grigsby was elected chairman on a 4-0 vote with Postelwait abstaining. Postelwait abstained from all votes during the meeting, which she said was illegal because no emergency existed.

"A lot of illegal motions went on at this illegal meeting," Postelwait said in a post on her Web site.

Clay County Commissioners sought an injunction to remove Postelwait after she refused a request to resign. In seeking the injunction, commissioners accused Postelwait of malfeasance in office and official misconduct including physical contact with another person.

Postelwait allegedly slapped Susan Beard, Roane County's only representative on the board, after an April 14 PSD meeting. The chairman reportedly became upset after Beard raised questions about finances, including cash advances allegedly made to Postelwait that had not been repaid.

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