Courtesy of The Milan Mirror Exchange
calebREVILL
The Atwood City Board voted unanimously to terminate city employee Robert ‘Glynn’ Long during a special called meeting Friday evening, Oct. 28.
This happened after a Carroll County General Sessions Court affidavit of complaint alleged Long was in violation of the Sex Offender Registry residential and work restrictions for working at Rogers Hydrant Service, which is within 1,000 feet of West Carroll Junior/Senior High School.
Long was convicted of attempted aggravated sexual battery on Oct. 15, 2007 in Carroll County. The affidavit, signed on Oct. 18, 2022 states that Long was hired at Rogers Hydrant Service around Nov. 18, 2019 and failed to update his employment on the sex offender registry within 48 hours. He was arrested on charges of violation of the sex offender registry and violation of community supervision for life and has since made bond.
Atwood board members met to discuss Long’s future employment with the town, with the exception of Alderman Ricky Long who was not present Glynn Long is Alderman Long’s brother.
“We don’t really have any choice, we have got to terminate Glynn Long,” said Atwood Mayor James Halford. “Since he’s been charged with these offenses, we can’t keep him. We’ve got to terminate him.”
While Halford recognized he has the authority to terminate city employees on his own discretion, he asked the board to vote on the issue given the importance of the matter. Alderman Mike Tolley asked if the city could be held liable if they kept Long working for them.
“I’ve talked to two different parole officers, and they said we actually can be liable if we know he’s going to these places,” Halford said.
Halford further stated that the board met with Long six months ago and explained that he couldn’t work at certain places in the town that would violate his work restrictions.
Alderman L.N. McNabb asked how Mayor Halford found out about Long’s s recent arrest. Halford said that he received calls on Wednesday that told him Glynn Long was going to be arrested for violating his work restrictions.
“We stand to be liable if anything comes up after this,” Halford reiterated.
Tolley made a motion to terminate Long that was seconded by Alderman Jim Lewis.
“I don’t want to do it, but I don’t see how we have any choice,” Tolley said.
The board members that also included Jim Lewis voted unanimously to terminate Long’s employment with the town. The board will discuss outsourcing water meter services to a contractor who has expressed interest in helping out at the next regular scheduled city board meeting.
