It was something of a case of “musical chairs”, during the Tuesday night Piedmont City Council meeting as Mayor Pro-Tem Frank Cobb was replaced by the council while he was presiding over the meeting.

Cobb was presiding in the absence of Mayor Rick Freeman, due to illness.

Cobb had presided over a public meeting at 5:30, then at 6:0pm0 opened the council meeting and was conducting the business of the city.  He was more than half-way through the agenda when he got to item #10.

Cobb asked if  any council member had any other business and Councilman Kenny Kelly said he did and brought up an issue with the way Cobb had handled a Committee meeting a week earlier.

Citing Cobb’s lack of experience to properly conduct meetings – Kelly made a motion to replace him with former Mayor Pro-tem, Billy Baker.  Councilman Ben Keller seconded the motion then during a heated discussion, Cobb explained his actions at the committee meeting.

Having a motion and a second – the City Clerk then called for a role call vote – with Councilman Keller, Councilwoman Bramblett, Councilman Kelly and Councilman Baker all voting Yes – and Councilmen Cobb and Kiser voting No. Councilwoman Spears was absent.

The measure passed with Cobb vacating the mayor’s chair and Baker then presiding over the rest of the meeting.

The next meeting of the Piedmont City Council is set for Tuesday, June 4th at 6:00pm.