At a special emergency board session held Monday night at city hall, Public Works Director Larry Janish was named as a temporary replacement for Mershon. "We need to select a building official to allow the city to continue to function," said Board President Jim Schuchmann. City officials also voted 3-1 Monday to begin advertising for a new building official. Schuchmann, Dave Walter and Angie Reynolds voted to proceed while Richard Denkler voted against the motion. Schuchmann confirmed Mershon had been terminated during executive session last week but declined to give specific details other than to say it was a budgetary issue. "We've only collected 22 percent of the fees we projected for building inspections to this point," related Schuchmann. "We've expended 50 percent of the budget and I don't see things picking up for the rest of the year. "It's obvious we had to do something," added Schuchmann. "The taxpayers have elected us to these seats and it's up to us to protect their interests with regard to city spending." Schuchmann said he envisions construction inspections eventually being handled by subcontractors from around the area on an "as needed" basis. Wright City Mayor Roy White and Denkler said Monday they aren't convinced the termination of Mershon is legal. White contends only he had the authority to terminate Mershon. White cites Section 103.2 of the International Property Maintenance Code of 2003, which governs the Department of Property Maintenance Inspection for fourth-class cities in the state of Missouri. The code reads "Appointment: The code official shall be appointed by the chief appointing authority of the jurisdiction and the code official shall not be removed from office except for cause and after full opportunity to be heard on specific and relevant charges by and before the appointing authority." Mershon could not be reached for comment. But city hall sources said Monday he was "extremely upset" by his sudden termination. Officials said Walter made the motion to terminate Mershon last Thursday during the executive session. The board approved Mershon's termination without White's participation in the process, according to city officials. "It looks like Ron should have had a hearing, at the least," White observed Monday. "I want no part of this in any way, shape or form." At Monday night's emergency session, Denkler told other board members "as far as I'm concerned, Ron Mershon is still employed by this city. "To be blunt and honest, I'm not going to take part in this," Denkler added. "This man has been wrongfully dismissed and you (board members) have put the city in jeopardy." City officials said Monday they intended to contact city attorney Darryl Hicks to ask for a legal opinion on the firing. Jamey Abercrombie, who chairs the city's planning and zoning committee, also attended Monday's special emergency board session. Near the end of the meeting, Abercrombie asked for and received permission to speak. "I can't believe this is happening," Abercrombie said. "You three (Schuchmann, Walter and Reynolds) should be ashamed of yourselves. "I will see to it you three get out (of office)," added Abercrombie. Last Friday morning, city officials said, Schuchmann and Police Chief Henry Matthews met Mershon, who was unaware of his termination, when he came to work. They escorted him to his office, where he was allowed to remove his personal effects and leave the building. White said he still considered Mershon an employee of the city. "As far as I'm concerned, Ron Mershon is getting a free paid vacation at the expense of the city," White said. "And when Ron is brought back to work, it will be at full salary, including all back pay he is owed. "If they don't like it, then it's time for someone to resign," White continued. Mershon, who has been with the city for about two years, was the subject of a police department investigation in June, but was cleared of any wrongdoing, according to several sources. The investigation alleged Mershon took a bribe of $1,500 from a contractor who was working on a project for the city. Merhon agreed to take a polygraph test which showed no wrongdoing on his part, sources said. Matthews declined to comment on the investigation of Mershon.