Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels accused Alderman Keith Paxton of "grandstanding" Tuesday during a sometimes-heated meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Paxton voted against new purchasing procedures for the town, expressing concerns about City Administrator Todd Smith's role in preparing the new policy.

Daniels and Paxton also argued about the legality of Smith calling each alderman before meetings to ask if they had any concerns about agenda items.

Paxton described these phone calls as "secret meetings."

As Paxton expressed concern about the new purchasing policy, Daniels recalled two weeks ago when Paxton voted against a resolution amending the town Charter to change the form of government and allow for the city administrator position.

Before the Feb. 7 meeting, Smith called the aldermen to see if they had any concerns, "and you failed to return the call," Daniels told Paxton.

Daniels also recalled that Paxton came to the Feb. 7 meeting with three main concerns about the resolution, which also must be approved by the Tennessee General Assembly.

One of Paxton's concerns on Feb. 7 was what he said was a conflict of interest if State Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, introduced the resolution in Nashville after it was approved by his father, Alderman Buddy Hawk.

Paxton said that he previously voted for creating the city administrator position, and, "Anyone that says I didn't vote for that, they're a liar."

Paxton then mentioned the state Sunshine Law for open meetings and said he would not return phone calls to discuss the agenda.

He referred to the resolution approved on Feb. 7, which says, "The city administrator shall take instructions from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen when they are sitting in a duly convened meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen."

In the past, Daniels said, the Recorder has made such calls to aldermen, and he doesn't understand why Paxton says those calls are secret meetings.

"For him to say that is just totally ridiculous," Daniels said after the meeting.

Daniels stressed that no secret meetings are being held.

Speaking about Paxton's objections, Daniels said during the meeting, "In my opinion, it's nothing but grandstanding."

Paxton referred to one other portion of the resolution approved on Feb. 7, which states that the board will focus on creating policies.

His argument was that the board should make policies for the city administrator to follow, instead of the city administrator writing a new purchasing policy.

If Smith is writing his own policy, then the aldermen do not need to seek reelection, because "There's nothing for us to do," Paxton said.

The new purchasing procedures, which passed by a vote of 3-1, included the following background:

"The Town of Greeneville has operated under a purchasing policy that has not been updated for several years.

"Currently the town staff is able to purchase any budgeting item under $200. For items between $200 and $2,499 staff is required to get informal bids for the purchase. Anything above $2,500 requires a sealed advertised bid process.

"With the rising cost of products and services Greeneville's policy should be updated."

The new purchasing limits include no restrictions for purchases under $1,000, as long as the purchase is budgeted.

Purchases between $1,000 and $4,999 require at least three verbal or written price quotes.

Purchases of $5,000 and over require a publicly advertised sealed bid or request for proposals (RFP) process. These purchases also must be approved by the board.

Paxton said he did not want to increase the unrestricted purchase amount from $200 to $1,000.

Alderman Sarah Webster reminded Paxton that Smith told the board on Feb. 7 he would return on Tuesday with purchasing-procedure suggestions for the board to consider.

"If you don't like this suggestion, you can vote against it," Webster told Paxton.

Daniels began calling for a vote, but Paxton said he was not finished with discussion.

Their exchange then became very heated, but Alderman Darrell Bryan spoke up and asked Acting Recorder Carol Susong to explain the procedures for making purchases and paying bills.

Susong spoke about department heads submitting purchase orders, which are copied. Invoices are checked to see if they match purchase orders and checks.

Both Bryan, as chairman of the town's Budget and Finance Committee, and Susong sign off on all purchases, he noted.

"Basically, there's a real thorough checks-and-balances system in place. The only thing that would change in all this purchasing is, the amount would go up," Bryan said.

Bryan requested that the mayor call for a vote, and the vote was 3-1, with Paxton voting no.

Following the meeting, discussion became heated between Hawk and Paxton.

Hawk asked Paxton who, instead of his son, should take the town's proposed charter change to Nashville.

"You need to look up the definition of 'conflict of interest' and get back to me," Hawk told Paxton.

Hawk said he was "getting a little bit sick and tired" of Paxton's objections.

Paxton said, "We should all have different opinions."

Hawk responded, "I hope to God they're not all like yours."

In related purchasing action, the board approved an ordinance on second and final reading increasing the spending threshold from $2,500 to $10,0000 to match state law.

The ordinance also states that the city administrator will "develop appropriate procedures for purchases subject to the approval of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen."

In other business, the board took action in the fight against synthetic drugs, such as bath salts and synthetic marijuana.

The issue was raised during the "Mayor's Comments" portion of the agenda.

Following remarks by Police Chief Terry Cannon, the board voted for a resolution to be drafted asking the state legislature to pass an enforceable law that prohibits the sale and possession of synthetic drugs.

Cannon said synthetic drugs sometimes sold as "bath salts" can cause seizures and deterioration of muscles and brain tissue.

"These kids don't know what they're getting into with this stuff," he said.

If the town passes an ordinance, the harshest punishment would be a $145 fine, Cannon noted.

The board also voted for Daniels to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the E-Verify Program for employment verification.

Smith said the program is being required for all public and private employers by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Tammy M. Johnson Carr, human resources manager, said the web-based program requires photo identification of all employees to prevent the employment of illegal immigrants.