Conway City Council meets for first time after mayor's death

By: Thema Ponton | SCNOW
Published: September 23, 2008

Monday night, Conway City Council members held the first scheduled council meeting without Mayor Greg Martin.

Saturday, Sept. 19, Mayor Greg Martin died at his vacation home in North Carolina.

Mayor Alys Lawson said it was a little nerve-racking Monday afternoon trying to get ready for the first council meeting without Martin.

Council members said they have big shoes to fill, but they're going to put all six of their feet in them and move forward.

Monday night's council meeting started with a moment of silence in honor of Mayor Martin.

And as George Martin spoke on his family's behalf, thanking council and other city employees for their kindness while the martin family was overwhelmed by grief, more tears were shed for the man called Mr. Conway.

George Martin said it wasn't just him who lost a brother, but all of Conway.

Council members said Martin would be proud of the city's employees.

"Greg Martin did things very methodically and were always well researched and well done and we want to be sure we continued that." said Lawson.

Lawson also said continuing mayor Martin's work includes rewriting some guidelines for the planning department and making it easier for business owners to operate in downtown Conway.

Lawson said, "We will work hard to be sure, we all love the city of Conway as well and that is why we serve and we will make sure that we do what we feel is in the best interest of the city and how it grows and develops and for the citizens as well."

Lawson said while she is learning as she goes in her current role as mayor, she could not have had a better teacher.

"I’ve been sitting with him almost ten years now on council listening to the way he conducted his meetings and I felt like I had some good rules to follow and I tried to do that tonight." said Lawson.

Council members are also looking into ways to honor Martin and his legacy.

Councilman Randle Alford suggested naming a street after Martin.

City administrator Bill Graham said a special election will be conducted Dec. 9 to fill Martin's unexpired term.