ATHENS, Tenn. — New Mayor Hal Buttram said Wednesday the Athens City Council needs to focus its time and energy on things that may affect the city’s future.

“We need to get our attention back toward annexation of the Mount Verd area,” Mr. Buttram said in an interview. “There are great opportunities with Volkswagen and our EDA (Economic Development Authority) to get a tier two company in here.”

And he said it’s “definitely time to put (City Manager Mitchell Moore) and problems in the past.”

The council members on Tuesday voted 3-2 for Mr. Buttram over Councilman Dick Pelley to serve as mayor.

Mr. Pelley and his council ally, Shannon Alvey, have criticized Mr. Moore’s job performance and called for him to be fired.

In Nov. 4 voting for two council seats, three of the four candidates said they favored replacing Mr. Moore. One was Mrs. Alvey, who was re-elected. The other winner, Ann Davis, hasn’t spoken for firing Mr. Moore.

Mr. Buttram on Wednesday said Mr. Moore has his faults, but has worked to keep the city on a strict budget. He said he expects 2009 to be slow, but that Athens’ record of controlling costs and managing expenses should see it through without major problems.

Mrs. Alvey conceded Wednesday the votes aren’t there to replace Mr. Moore.

“I hope Mr. Moore’s performance improves. Only time will tell,” she said.

She said the council’s job is to serve the people, and that most council members share common ground on local issues.

Mr. Pelley also conceded that the council has spoken.

“The only thing we can do now is to take care of running the city,” Mr. Pelley said.

Mr. Buttram, who was elected in 2004, will be mayor for two years, when he, Mr. Pelley and Vice Mayor Bo Perkinson will be up for re-election.

The mayor sets agendas for meetings, serves on certain committees, acts as representative for the city and schedules meetings. But he has only one vote of five on the council.

Comments