New Warrenton Mayor Jerry Dyer was sworn in Friday afternoon, a highly unusual move since he will occupy the office for several days prior to the next board of aldermen meeting. Dyer was sworn in during an impromptu ceremony Friday afternoon, April 6, at the Warren County Courthouse. The oath of office was administered by 12th Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge Keith Sutherland. Only Dyer, Sutherland and a reporter were in attendance. Normally, newly elected candidates are sworn in at the next meeting of the board they represent. Dyer would have been sworn in at the next aldermanic meeting on April 17. Two new Warrenton aldermen, John Cornell and Jim Dreyer, and one incumbent, Fred Flake, will be administered the oath at that meeting. By being sworn in early, Dyer said it allows him to be brought up to speed quicker on city business. It also comes on the heels of a closed session meeting held April 3 where two city employees, Director of Operations/Finance Officer Terri Thorn and Police Chief Greg Houdyshell, received employment contracts following a 5-1 vote from aldermen. The contracts had been proposed by Costello, who said Thorn and Houdyshell had been targeted for termination by Dyer. According to the contracts, Thorn and Houdyshell will be paid their full annual salary as part of a severance package if they are fired. “This process made it possible for me to have access to privileged information, such as minutes from the executive session meeting on April 3, 2012, copies of contracts being offered to city employees, all real estate issues and all city litigation,” Dyer said in a statement. “This will give me a running start in setting up interviews with all department heads and become involved with the everyday workings of city government.” Dyer succeeds Greg Costello, who served as mayor since 2008 but decided to not seek another term. Costello also previously served as mayor for 12 years from 1986 to 1998 and was an alderman for two separate terms in 2003 and 2006. Costello acknowledged Dyer being sworn in early was “atypical,” but wished him well leading the city. “I accept this action taken by the judge, delivered by the judge,” Costello told The Record. “I hope the board and new mayor find some common ground. None of this extracurricular activity is good for the city.” Dyer won by a landslide in the April 3 mayoral race that featured six candidates. He collected 662 votes, or 70 percent of the vote. His next closest challengers were current Ward 3 Alderman Don Broering, who had 118 votes (12 percent), and former Alderman Jerry Cullom, who received 101 votes (11 percent). The rest of the field included Dan Brazinski (26 votes), Jimmie Tipton (21) and Wayne Smith II (19). Tipton’s name remained on the ballot, though he died March 14 following a brief illness. The election results were certified by County Clerk Barb Daly the day following the municipal election.