By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorBy a 3-2 vote, the Warrenton Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted against giving city employees a paid holiday for Martin Luther King Day.A second option discussed — giving employees the option of trading one holiday for another — did not come up for a vote.Voting in favor of the paid holiday were John Cornell and Karen Casserly. Voting against the motion were Fred Flake, John Clark and James Dreyer. Gary Auch was absent.Cornell noted that the King holiday has been a federal holiday since 1986, and is observed in by all 50 states. “We are long overdue in observing this,” Cornell said. “I think it's important that we observe it.”Clark said that the paid holiday, which would have effected all city employees except the police department, would not be free.Director of Operations Terri Thorn said that while there would be no extra pay involved, the city would lose the productivity of its employees.Mayor Jerry Dyer reminded the board that once a holiday is declared it will be permanent.Cornell said a no vote would send the wrong message. “What kind of message are we sending when we observe Black Friday, but not the Martin Luther King holiday?” he asked. “We let them off for a convenience.”Clark replied: “City employees don't get Presidents' Day off. Whenever I am asked about the subject people tell me that if we don't get Presidents' Day off we shouldn't get off for Martin Luther King Day.”Dreyer said that the reason businesses began giving off Black Friday was not so employees could go shopping, but because it cost too much for companies to restart factory lines for a single day.Board Votes No on MLK Day City Holiday