Dorsey says "issues" led to Red Bank chief's firing

Red Bank City Manager Chris Dorsey said Tuesday that he was "pointed by a commissioner" toward unspecified "issues" that led to the firing of the city's top law enforcement officer.

Repeating that only he is in charge of hiring and firing city employees, Mr. Dorsey added that his source was not Vice Mayor Monty Millard, the commissioner arrested twice in the last year by the Red Bank Police Department, which was led until Friday by ex-Chief Larry Sneed.

Red Bank Mayor Joe Glasscock and Commissioner Ruth Jeno said they opposed the firing and didn't know anything about Mr. Sneed's termination until after the man responsible for city employment - Mr. Dorsey - fired him. Commissioner Greg Jones said "in no way whatsoever" did he discuss the matter with Mr. Dorsey.

That leaves Commissioner Floy Pierce.

"I really can't comment on any of this right now," she said. "I have my own thoughts, but I can't reveal them."

The comments came before about 100 people packed Red Bank City Hall to capacity Tuesday night, at least a dozen of them demanding to hear the reasons behind Mr. Sneed's dismissal.

One Red Bank resident questioned how the decision was made.

"Was there any Sunshine Law that was broken with the way this was handled?" Marlene Eberhardt asked, referring to a state law that prohibits elected officials from making public policy decisions in secret.

After Mr. Glasscock said "I don't know," City Attorney Arnold Stulce shrugged, and neither the remaining commissioners nor Mr. Dorsey answered the question.

"Is it my understanding that it just takes three commissioners to fire you?" Ms. Eberhardt asked Mr. Dorsey.

Mr. Dorsey said her understanding was correct, and Ms. Eberhardt replied, "that's all I needed to say."

City records show that Mrs. Pierce often votes with Mr. Millard and Mr. Jones on contested issues facing the commission. There was no vote before Mr. Sneed was terminated.

At the start of 2014, the team behind Big Orange announced plans to open a brewery, and then were able to make it happen before the end of the year. Officially opened the weekend before Christmas, here are a few things to know before you visit Lost Forty Brewing, a Q&A with the head brewer, and a photo tour of the facility. (Oh, and also this year, Big Orange — along with liquor stores around the state — began filling growlers.)

Diamond Bear Brewing Co. moved it's headquarters from Little Rock to North Little Rock this year (and now they offer food!). Also new to DB in 2014? Southern Blonde in can form.

We held our first-ever Sync Craft Beer Tournament, narrowing a field of 32 regional beers down to 16, eight, four and then finally a winner. (Here's a recap of how we picked which beers to include, in case you're wondering.)

In April, there was noise of new brews making their way to Arkansas shelves. Local distillery Rock Town had similar news as its rum hit local shelves shortly after. This year also saw the ABC working to catch up with the boom of craft breweries in the state in terms of regulation.

Two independent brewers — Matt Foster and Josiah Moody — kept us up-to-date on what their recent endeavors in the world of brewing, and nanobrewery Stone's Throw Brewing celebrated its anniversary with news of expansion.

It was actually late last year that Joel Antunes hinted about big changes at Ashley's, and this year saw those changes come to life in the form of One Eleven at the Capital. Updates worth getting excited about: a predictably still-delicious menu and a new wine program.

In the fall, more breweries: news of a River Market brewery. One of Blue Canoe's brewers, Laura Berryhill, is one of the few females currently behind craft-beer production in the state.

Speaking of the River Market, Boscos closed, and soon after, Damgoode Pies announced plans to fill the space with an eatery and its first brewery. Plus, Raimondo Family Winery announced that it'd be moving its production facility and tasting room to downtown Little Rock.

Along Main Street, Maduro owner Michael Peace closed his cigar bar and reopened the spot as a speakeasy called 109 & Co. And lastly, down the street, Samantha's Tap Room — set to open in early 2015 — released a first look at its menu.

Plus, it's worth noting that in November, voters elected to make alcohol sales legal in Saline County.

What a year, right?

Bonus: Take our quiz on where to drink in the metro.

The trio chose not to comment on the firing as opposed to Mr. Glasscock and Ms. Jeno, who said they support rehiring Mr. Sneed and that the firing was "backroom politics."

According to the Red Bank City Charter and Tennessee state law, a city manager can be fired only "at the will" of the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Jones, Mr. Millard and Mrs. Pierce constitute a majority of votes on the five-member commission.

"At no time did any commission member ask me to dismiss Larry Sneed," Mr. Dorsey said at the meeting.

Mr. Sneed's contract was considered an "at will" deal, meaning his employment could be "terminated at any time, with or without cause, for any reason, or for no reason" by the city manager, according to a memo that detailed the former chief's hiring in 2003.

Several current and former Red Bank Police Department officers lined the courthouse wall Tuesday night, but none of them spoke. Mr. Glasscock stated before the public comment period of the meeting that people who don't live in Red Bank would be prohibited from speaking.

Four current Red Bank police officers declined comment after the meeting.

After Ms. Jeno made the comment that commissioners need to "quit acting like third graders on a playground," one resident made a similar argument, even recommending the city hire a mediator to keep everyone on the same page.

"Spend our tax money on somebody straightening you all up," Red Bank resident Betty Heffington said to applause.

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