Council discussions turn hostile

V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute

Tuesday night’s almost two and a half hour City Council meeting was rife with open hostility from start to finish.

Public comment continued on a theme of opposing the “No Feeding Animals” ordinance and how the City needs to understand the costs of running an animal shelter or rescue program and consider increasing funding. 

“It’s our place to help take care of those animals,” said Rachelle Guffey. “We’re responsible for our community, it’s our place. It’s how it is. I love my town but I’m not proud of how It’s being run lately. It’s embarrassing at times.”

But it was discussions on potentially hiring an additional operator with a Class C license for the water department when things got heated. 

“Who put this on the agenda, and who’d you talk to? Because it wasn’t me,” said Public Works Director Allan Whatley. “The water and sewer budget is facing a $250,000 deficit and you want to hire a $50,000 employee?”

Mayor Patricia Finstrom added the item to the agenda stating she felt that the City needs to have two Class C operators available here at all times. 

Whatley said he’d been asked to get a rate analysis, that water rates would have to increase $13-15 to cover the deficit, and adding a Class C operator would change that to a $20 increase.

Council ultimately tabled the decision to create the position, set it’s salary and post to hire until after Wednesday night’s water and sewer budget discussions.

Ward 3 Alderman April Taylor Johson said “We have to be able to work and talk with Allan. He’s the one out there working and running the system.” 

 An altercation between Finstrom and Whatley later occurred when Finstrom told Whatley he “lie[s] all the time” on her way to executive session. Whatley did not respond to the comment at a level overheard by the public.

Tensions continued to rise when Council considered “adopting Roberts Rules of Order.” The agenda did not specify when the Rules would be used.

“Who’s the expert on Roberts rules?” Ward 2 Alderman Ray Hengst asked. “Here they are. It’s a big book. Will we have a parlamentarian? It’s required.”

Finstrom had added the item to the agenda hoping to adopt a “simplified form” but what that was, was  not presented to Council.

“I’ve seen where we were before, and where we are now, and I don’t think we are here and where we need to be,” said Ward 1 Alderman Bubba Haggard.

Taylor and Ward 1 Alderman Hollis Shadden were for the adoption, but the remaining four members voted against it. For now, meetings will continue to be run as they have been.

Closing out the evenings tensions was a discussion on “Discuss Funding for Animal Control vs Animal Rescue for the upcoming budget,” a discussion item also added by Finstrom. 

Johnson asked Ward 3 Alderman Paul Keith what happened to the revised animal feeding ordinance he had indicated would be on Tuesday’s agenda. Keith said he didn’t realize it had to go to the City Attorney first, thus causing the delay. 

Keith indicated some of the proposed changes, stating allowances for FOJA and TNR programs had been added; correcting the non-existant Health Code Law; allowing feeding on other people’s property with permission; and correcting other typographical errors. He said he wasn’t sure when it would be before Council, citing the resignation of the City Attorney.

Finstrom and Haggard got into a heated discussion on the creation of the ordinance with Finstrom insisting Haggard had asked her to put it on the July agenda because he had not formed a committee to get feedback. Haggard loudly disputed the claim.

Finstrom ended the discussion and moved Council into Executive Session to perform Jefferson Police Chief Tino Perez’s  annual evaluation.

Following the meeting there were further tense moments as Finstrom appeared to thow a folder of documents at City Secretary Melissa Boyd before leaving the building.