NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell broke a 3-3 tie at Tuesday evening’s board of aldermen meeting to rescind its appointment of Everett Sanders as city attorney.

The motion was made by Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith, who said she thinks it would be in the best interest of the board to interview potential candidates.

The board met for approximately an hour prior to its regular meeting in executive session during which the appointment was discussed as a personnel issue.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier and Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Irving voted against the motion.

Smith, Ward 5 Alderman Benjamin Davis and Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard voted for the motion, and Grennell broke the tie.

Sanders, who prior to the vote had acted as attorney for the board during its finance meeting and executive session Tuesday, got up from the city attorney’s seat after the vote and sat in the audience.

Sanders’ appointment has been called into question by members of the public, including resident Gail Guido who appealed the appointment in Adams County Circuit Court.  Aldermen voted earlier this month to seek an attorney general’s opinion on the matter. The attorney general’s office later said it would not issue an opinion on the issue while litigation is pending in court.