Review of September 6, 2011

If you didn't attend last night's board meeting, you missed another pivotal moment in Lumberton's downward spiral. There were several citizens on the agenda that addressed the board and several checks were approved for the 2011 FAA-AIP (Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Programs) Grants, several payments were approved for the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) for Go-Zone Site Improvements Project/Sewer System Improvements Projects and then we got to the reports from the department heads and that's when things went bad. All of the department heads gave their reports, Jerry Walters stated that only 5 fire hydrants are not working in the city, Roy Easley reported that two pumps are going to need work, Dennis Hobson wanted to remove some officers from the part-time roster, including an officer that's on military leave and he wanted to hire four new part-time officers (Kelvin Johnson was the only one at the meeting); Mayor Holder asked him to bring the officers before the board before hiring them, and he said he would, but after going into executive session, the other three officers were hired, Melinda Carli gave a report on the work that's taking place at the library, Stephanie Mullings thanked the board for working with her during her recent illness and informed them that she would not be able to attend the public hearing regarding the budget, and then Mayor Holder addressed the board about the memorandum they sent out to employees that demanded they sign off on a new personnel policy.
While outlining the illegal actions of the board, Mayor Holder was interrupted by Bobby Gibson and he wanted to know if she was finished. Mayor Holder continued and then Kent Crider yelled at the Mayor and said "Either you go on with the agenda or we will have you put out of this meeting because you work at the pleasure of the board." Kent is one example that a big head is not an indication of intelligence. The mayor is chosen by election; she has superintending control of all officers and affairs of the municipality and is charged with seeing that the laws and ordinances are executed. Apparently, Kent Crider has confused Mississippi's laws regarding at-will employment with the duties and responsibilities of the mayor. During all of this commotion, Mr. Snow told Kent Crider that he was not going to keep disrespecting his wife. As Snow was leaving the meeting, he said something to Kent Crider and next thing I know, Crider slung his papers into the audience and jumped up to go after Snow. Essentially, the meeting was basically over at this point. Prior to any of this happening, Timothy Johnson had already left the meeting to attend to some personal business.
After the interruption, Mayor Holder and Aldermen Rogers exited the meeting. At this point, the meeting should have been recessed due to the lack of a quorum, but they didn't end the meeting. Instead, Gibson sent a police officer to Johnson's house to get him to come back to the meeting so they could finish out the agenda. Now this is where things get murky. From the time Alderman Rogers left to the time Alderman Johnson returned, twenty-six minutes had expired, but they went on with the meeting as though nothing happened. I can't wait to see the minutes for this meeting because I'm certain that Stephanie is not going to put the actual time the meeting ended and restarted into the minutes. We will also get the opportunity to see Cindy Wall's ture character,or lack thereof, because I'm almost certain that she's going to lie and act like only 5 or 10 minutes lapsed between the time Rogers left and Johnson returned.
During the long recess, Gibson begged Mrs. Bogle to not write about what happened at the meeting, but she said she has to report it. I guess you will have to read Sunday's paper to see her take on what happened last night. Just a bit of advice, maybe the board should put the claims docket and other bills and payments at the beginning of the agenda. That way, they wouldn't need the city clerk to lie in the compilation of the minutes of the meeting or violate laws that govern meetings.