The main points of the meeting were discussed live while the meeting was taking place on the Lumberton Informer Facebook page, but I will recap the events for those of you that were not aware of the new format. Hopefully, I will have the kinks worked out and will broadcast the next board meeting through my webcam. The meeting started out rather slowly. At one point, we thought there wasn't going to be a quorum. Hugh Jay McGraw was being sworn in after winning the post as the Alderman, Ward 2. Judge Prentiss Harrell administered the oath of office. Mayor Miriam R. Holder, Alderman Quincy Rogers, Stephanie Mullings, City Clerk, Elsie Fortenberry-Cowart, Interim Chief of Police and Roy Easley, Acting Public Works Director were present for the ceremony. Noticeably absent were Bobby Gibson, Timothy Johnson and Kent Crider. (It's interesting that Gibson would be present for the counting of the votes but not for the swearing in ceremony.) Harrell encouraged the board to work together and said they can make things better for the City of Lumberton. Shortly after the swearing in of McGraw, Gibson arrived and the meeting was opened. The City accepted proposals for the "City Wide Public Property Debris Collection and Disposal." Bids were also opened for the Fencing Project at the I.H. Bass Jr. Memorial Airport. The bid was awarded to Columbus Fence Co. LLC in the amount of $65,250. (This money is coming from a FAA-Airport Improvement Grant.) The board approved the O'Neal Bond Katrina Go-Zone Landscaping Project. Rachel Jefferson and Gloria Bennett addressed the board about the upcoming Dianne Bennett Memorial Breast Cancer Foundation. This year, the money raised will be used to support a local breast cancer awareness project. During the department head reports, Chief E. Cowart reported there was an increase in crime. She encouraged citizens to make sure they don't leave any valuable in sight in their cars and she also encouraged citizens to make sure they lock their doors. the board hired another full time certified full time police officer. His name is Guy Serrin and he will start working this week. Stephanie Mullings was authorized to attend the PERS Employer training on July 25, 2012. Jay McGraw will attend the Mississippi rural Water Association 2012 Board Member Management Training. (This meeting is mandatory for all newly elected officials.) Timothy Johnson entered the meeting and started participating in the discussion. The board also voted to start using United Healthcare Insurance. This replaced the GAP insurance they once had. Prior to entering executive session, Stephanie Mullings announced that Attorney, and former member of the Lumberton Planning and Zoning Committee, Rick Tonry had died. So please be in prayer with his family. Things got heated during executive session. As a matter of fact, everyone sitting in the audience became silent when they heard Timothy Johnson yelling. I couldn't hear the entire conversation, but we could intermittenly hear him saying things like this is not personal and we're doing what's best for the city. Later, he snatched open the door to executive session room and then slammed it. A few minutes later, he exited the room, gathered his papers and politely told everyone sitting in the audience, good-bye. Just a few seconds later, Gibson came shuffling out of the executive room as well. When Mayor Holder and the rest of the board came out, it was announced that Betty Speights was hired as Deputy Clerk for the police department and the meeting was recessed until the next meeting because there wasn't a quorum to vote to close the meeting.
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