A packed house filled the East Ridge City Council room, as Councilman Marc Gravitt brought up City Manager Tim Gobbles' 19 year old hire.
Gravitt said, "We've got police officers and firemen that don't start off with 35-thousand dollars a year and I've got a real problem with this."
But Gobble said he based the salary on what the state of Tennessee reccommended for the job description.
I actually hired this young man with the responsibilities that he has below the minimum. I cant discriminate against anybody because of their age. That'd be a federal law violation," said Gobble.
Doubts about the 19 year olds qualifications stirred the crowd most.
He's still in college studying government, and Gobble says there were 75 other applicants some with bachelors and masters degrees.
Gobble says Clabough's responsibilites are to assist him with administration duties and communications.
He'll soon be coordinating grants.
He says his four months with the office makes him the most qualified, but Councilman Gravitt says the job posting Gobble made contradicts that.
It says here that three to five years of experience in office administration is required," said Gravitt.
In the end the Mayor Brent Lambert said nothing could be done about it.
"If the job doesn't get dont then I need to do something until that time. I'm gonna let these two positions do their thing," said the Mayor.
