McComb selectmen reappointed two McComb-Pike County Airport board members to serve five-year terms, but the vote for one came with heavy debate.
Ed Silence and Mitch Dorr were on Tuesday’s agenda for McComb officials to vote on whether to reappoint them.
Dorr’s appointment was approved unanimously, but when a motion was made for Silence to serve another term, debate surfaced.
Selectman Ted Tullos made a substitute motion for Maureen Clark to serve instead. The board voted against that 4-2, with Tullos and Selectman Michael Cameron in favor of appointing Clark and selectmen Devante Johnson, Shawn Williams, Ronnie Brock and Donovan Hill opposed.
Following the vote against Clark, the board voted to reappoint Silence along the same lines.
After Tullos’ substitute motion, discussion started.
“Mayor, do you mind asking Selectman Tullos what is this about?” Johnson said. “I mean we have a person on the table at this point. Mr. Silence is already serving. What’s this about?”
Tullos said he based his recommendation on conversations with McComb/Pike County Airport Board members and fixed base operator Rick Simpson.
“I’ve talked to all of the members of the board as well as the manager and they would like to see Maureen Clark on that board,” Tullos said.
Hill, who attended by phone, asked if Tullos spoke to airport board members.
“He talked to airport board members and airport manager and they would love to see Maureen Clark to serve,” Lockley said.
“OK, so, the airport board is picking their board members?” Hill asked.
Lockley said the airport board was making recommendations to the city board.
Lockley said Clark, along with Silence and Dorr, submitted resumes for the airport board. He said City Administrator David Myers chose to place it on the agenda to appoint Silence, not Clark.
“According to the City Administrator, she did submit a resume application and all that, but his recommendation is Ed Silence and that’s why it’s not included,” Lockley said.
After the meeting, Myers said he recommended Silence for the seat because he was the incumbent.
“Traditionally, the board has already set a precedent that if a board member wants to be reappointed, then that name is put forth,” Myers said. “Obviously, the board had the authority to make a substitute and pick another person.
“What I was going on was just basically following an already set protocol. If a board member wants to be reappointed, their names come up first unless there’s just something totally wrong with them. It’s already a prescribed protocol of giving a person an opportunity to continue to serve.”
In a related matter, officials unanimously voted to advertise for people to serve on the McComb school board and planning commission.
Terms for school board member Eliece Rayborn and planning commission members Clark and Alvin Burks expire Feb. 28.
