The Florala City Council hired Gina Hendrix as city clerk, and Angie McDaniel as bookkeeper.

City clerk Kathy Rathel, and bookkeeper Joy Taylor both recently resigned, creating the openings.

Mayor Terry Holley said because the clerk and bookkeeper will do work for both the city and for its utilities board, he and the utilities chairman served as the committee to interview candidates. There were two applicants for each job.

Councilwoman Sue Mathis questioned the process used, citing both the city’s Standard Operating Procedures and the League of Municipalities guide, and said a council member or members also should have served on the committee.

Both she and Councilman Jeff Burleson voting against the hirings.

“I want Gina to understand, this doesn’t have anything to do with her,” she said. “She has always been helpful to me.”

Taylor, the bookkeeper who resigned, is Mathis’ sister.

In an unrelated matter, the council voted to terminate Cassandra Wallace, who worked in the municipal court. Councilwoman Sylvia Patton-Wallace cast the lone dissenting vote.