McComb officials say their choice for the airport board, McComb teacher Ed Silence, will be seated, even if county supervisors do not agree.
Mayor Quordiniah Lockley said at Tuesday’s work session that research through city and county records showed the boards have not voted their approval for the other board’s choice of appointee in the past.
“The minutes show no ratification is needed,” he said.
Selectmen, in a split vote, chose Silence for the seat, which is supposed to be a joint appointment by the city and county, rather than reappointing pilot and mechanical engineer Walt Holifield.
Lockley said board attorney Angela Cockerham had discussed the matter with another attorney, but whether that was board of supervisors attorney Wayne Dowdy or airport board attorney Robin Dickerson was not clear.
Cockerham was not present at the work session to comment on the matter.
Selectman Ronnie Brock said the city should follow up on the matter because of events he said occurred at the most recent airport board meeting.
“Our nominee was present, and the attorney told him he could not participate,” Brock said. “This is not settled.”
Lockley said the city’s resolution naming Silence to the airport board has already been sent to the airport board, and he should be seated and allowed to participate at the next meeting.
Airport board member Bob Hensarling said Silence was invited to the board’s meeting as at least a prospective member to watch the proceedings and get a feel for the issues at hand.
Board Vice President Jeff Daughdrill was leading the meeting and called for a vote to accept the minutes of the previous meeting. Silence raised his hand to vote, Hensarling said, and Daughdrill asked Dickerson if Silence could vote.
“The attorney said no,” Hensarling said Wednesday.
Board of supervisors President Chuck Lambert said Wednesday that he was unaware of the city’s new stance on the appointment, and had not been notified of any changes or conversations between Dowdy and Cockerham.
“I was in court with Mr. Dowdy (Tuesday) on another matter, and he didn’t mention that,” Lambert said. “I feel if it had changed, he would have told me.”
As far as Dowdy possibly discussing the matter with Cockerham, “I can’t say that is or isn’t correct,” Lambert said.
In a later phone call, Lambert said he had spoken with Dowdy Wednesday afternoon, and Dowdy told him that he and Cockerham had spoken Tuesday afternoon and had reached no agreement on the matter.
Lambert said county Administrator Tami Dangerfield told him Wednesday that the county had received the city’s resolution appointing Silence to the airport board. Otherwise, supervisors have no other information.
“All we’ve done at this point is what Mr. Dowdy has told us,” Lambert said. “We haven’t heard anything else from anybody.”
Lockley did not respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday.
Dickerson said Wednesday that she was “not at liberty to say” whether she and Cockerham had discussed the board appointment.
