Brookhaven aldermen approved an airport runway paving bid and apart-time secretary for the mayor’s office Thursday during briefspecial meeting.

The board awarded an approximately $441,000 contract toDickerson and Bowen for overlay of the airport runway and approachareas. Money for the project will come from federal aviation andstate transportation funds, said City Engineer Carl Ray Furr.

Dickerson and Bowen was the only bidder on the project. Based onsimilar projects in Jackson, Furr said the estimate on theBrookhaven work was $488,000.

“Actually, they were under the estimate,” Furr said inrecommending approval. “That’s why I’m comfortable making thisaward even though we only had one bid.”

In other business, the board approved the employment of SheilaMassey as a part-time secretary for the mayor’s office. Massey,formerly Sheila Pepper, was hired to fill in while full-timesecretary Bonita Bullock was on vacation this week.

The employment matter came up during Tuesday’s meeting, but Ward5 Alderman Tom Smith cited a board policy that new employees haveto appear at a board meeting when they’re hired. Neither Godboldnor Massey were present Tuesday.

“They all ought to do it or not have to do it at all,” Smithsaid, alluding to city department concens about the employeeappearance issue and the need to be consistent.

Godbold indicated there was an oversight in not getting Masseyto a meeting and handling the matter before Tuesday.

Ward 2 Alderman Terry Bates offered a motion to hire Massey andpay her retroactively since she started work Monday. The motion wasapproved 4-0, as Smith and fellow Aldermen Dorsey Cameron and LesBumgarner were not present for last night’s meeting.