Equality, Employment and Executive Sessions
At the last regularly called board meeting, there was an agenda items to send a Justin Martin to the police academy. I didn’t think much of the matter at the time, but then I began to wonder when was the City of Lumberton going to send Sharese Pearson to the police academy for training? When I looked through the minutes of the city council meetings I found the following: On May 4, 2010 there was a unanimously favorable vote of the Board of Aldermen approving to terminate Sharese Moody [Pearson] as a part-time police officer and to hire her as a part time clerk at a pay rate of $9.50/hour until the next academy in July 2010. On June 15, 2010 the Board of Aldermen voted approving to extend Sharese Moody [Pearson] time to enter into academy September 2010. So, according to the minutes, Sharese should be going to the academy for her training to become a certified police officer. According to the minutes, it looks as though the City of Lumberton has a serious matter to address or there could be some legal repercussions. Which could explain why ALL five of our aldermen agreed to allow Lindsey Carter to remain on as city attorney until the City of Lumberton find a replacement. I have always believed that our elected officials used executive session to hid issues from the voting public. But according to the Attorney General’s office, there is no need to enter into executive session except for the purpose of discussing strategy and defenses related to ongoing litigation in which the municipality is involved. According to Mississippi Code Ann. Section 25-41-7(4)(b) “ There is nothing, however, that prohibits members of the board of aldermen from disclosing information discussed during the executive session and there is no provision for removal of municipal officers for disclosing discussions which occur during executive session.” Therefore, it is no longer necessary to go into executive sessions b/c the information can be released to the public. But I don’t understand how ALL of the aldermen agreed to allow Lindsey Carter to remain as city attorney without overriding the veto that was imposed by the mayor. According to Mississippi Code Ann. Section 21-3-15 “In a municipality having a five member board, an affirmative vote of four would be necessary to successfully override the veto. The members of a board of aldermen must act to override not later than the next lawfully convened regular (which took place Tuesday, September 7, 2010) or special meeting of the governing authority. When the board of aldermen appoints a person to serve in a municipal position, the mayor has the authority to veto that affirmative action. The person appointed by the board of aldermen is not entitled to continue to serve after the mayoral veto of that appointment.” From what I’ve read, it seems that the actions that were taken by the board of aldermen on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 are not legal. As a result of the lack of knowledge concerning the laws governing their position, they put their bonds, businesses and livelihood in jeopardy by improperly reinstating Lindsey Carter as city attorney without placing the matter on the agenda and voting to override the mayor’s veto.
Can the citizens of Lumberton have a town meeting to get rid of all aldermen and alderwoman and have a special election to vote in new aldermen. If so the citizens of Lumberton need to know this so we can take our town back and stop our town from being held hostage. We need aldermen that are willing to let our town grow. John can you research this and post it on your blog I believe the people of Lumberton need to know this so they can free their town from the crooks that are running it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crock. This whole board is doing as well as anyone else would. The board isn't keeping the city from growing. It's the mentality portrayed in the above comment that keeps the city from growing. Who in their right mind would put a business in Lumberton? The few that have went out on a limb and opened a business had to close their doors because the people of Lumberton would rather spend money on gas to drive to another town to get whatever it is for 50 cents cheaper and then run them down all over town saying they're trying to rob the good people of Lumberton. It's not the board, it's the people. With that being said, we have some fine folks around here, but the louder strife seekers have labeled Lumberton. It didn't get this way over night. It took decades to destroy it, and it will probably take decades to rebuild it.
ReplyDeleteThe citizens of Lumberton has spoken MERIAN HOLDER IS THE MAYOR FOR THIS CITY, for this board to totally disregard her really puts this city in a bind. If she was not surpose to be there, maybe Al Young or Larry Strahan(probably not Larry) would be Mayor, but that is not what the citizens voted for and with this ruthless group of alderman and women the community is watching and it looks like your fight is for personal gain but, remember election time is coming again and its very possible that Mayor Holder will be the mayor (she has my vote) but most of the aldermen/women won't be maybe Quincy. Tim I along with others are very disappointed with you .I have spoken to quite a few people in the community and you don't even have to run for elected official again . I know we go to a church where women don't get in the pulpit and they are just not suppose to be in charge of men but read a little farther and see where God wants us to give respect and honor to those who have rule over you. You don't have to worry about me or my family attending any services that you preach you are not a creditable witness. Your Conduct shows it Respect our elected official or you'll reap the fruit of it
ReplyDeleteWe get on here and we say alot of things but let just call it the way it is. My mother always told me call a spade a spade and bullshit bullshit. This town has posted signs saying Shop in Lumberton, WHERE? There is nowhere to shop here that is why we go to Purvis, Poplarville, Hattiesburg, and other places. When we had the opportunity to have businesses that would have helped our city, or places to eat, even a jail to bring in revenue, the very people who want us to keep it in Lumberton are the very ones who blocked the city's growth. The only reason they want us to shop local is because it helps their pockets. We as citizens need to stand up and speak our minds before it is too late. @ commenter #3 we have a good Mayor and I guess she is not loud enough but as long as we had a DRUNK Mayor getting on the news embarrassing the city and keeping us in the spotlight the board members who are still on the board respected him even after he called them Porch Monkeys. Mayor Holder keep your head up, this to will pass, you got my vote.
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