Sorrento council picks resident to fill vacant seat

SORRENTO — The Town Council unanimously voted Monday night to appoint Charles Chad Day, a Sorrento resident of 12 years, to an interim council seat.

“I’m originally from Florida,” Day said. “I fell in love with Sorrento, and vowed never to leave. I want to see some change, and I hope I can help.”

The seat was left vacant with the departure of Councilman Lionel Melancon, who left the council after several meetings ended in heated arguments over legal fees that have gone unpaid for four months, and the town’s troubled sewer system.

The standoff over legal fees continued Monday night as the council voted to direct town attorneys Karl Scott and Donovan Hudson to file a writ on the council’s behalf compelling Mayor Wilson Longanecker Jr. to pay the bill.

Longanecker said he still has unresolved questions about the fees charged, and concerns about the town’s finances if legal fees continue on pace.

Councilmen Randy Anny, John Wright and Milton “Needlenose” Vicknair all argued that the town attorneys were only performing legal work requested of them by the mayor and council.

“You’re making your point, he’s making his point, legal’s making their point,” Councilman Marvin Martin said to Anny. “We’re going around and around. We need to stop this and move this town forward ...”

“I’m just trying to say let’s get along, let’s pay the bill, let’s set a cap (on professional service fees), and let’s move on ...” Martin said. “Legal’s willing to work with us. Now we need to get (Longanecker) to sit down with them, point out what your concerns are, and get back on track.”

“And we’re willing to do that,” Hudson said, adding that the outstanding bill must be paid.

“Do you know what it’s going to look like in the newspaper if the council has to sue the mayor to pay the bills?” Anny said.

“A man’s got to stand by his convictions,” Longanecker answered.

The next step is to take Longanecker to civil court over the bill, Anny said.