McComb’s grievance policy again came into question Tuesday night as the city board met before a packed room.
As the one-hour meeting neared its conclusion, two items remained: comments from Selectman Melvin Joe Johnson regarding the city’s grievance policy and comments from resident Eddie R. Smith regarding citizen participation in board meetings and work sessions.
The grievance policy has been a hot topic at city hall since an alleged confrontation in January between City Administrator Quordiniah Lockley and Department of Community Relations and Tourism Director Tasha Dillon.
Dillon attempted to present a grievance to the city board at a January work session, but according to city policy, all grievances — from city employees and department heads alike — must be submitted to Lockley, who has maintained that Dillon did not follow the policy.
At the heart of the issue is how a department head should handle a grievance against the city administrator when all grievances are supposed to go the city administrator.
Johnson pressed the issue at the Feb. 8 board meeting, and the board entered executive session to discuss the incident but took no action.
Johnson’s comments Tuesday touched on the executive session.
“I thought that was illegal at the time, because I thought everything that has to go into executive session is supposed to be on the agenda prior to going into executive session,” Johnson said, turning to Lockley. “Isn’t that right, Mr. C.A.? Isn’t that right, Mr. C.A.?”
Rawlings asked Johnson to get to his point on the grievance policy itself, and Johnson replied, “I’m just asking the city administrator Mr. Mayor, because the city administrator, he’s in charge of everything because the mayor has no power, so that’s what I’m asking him.”
As Lockley began an answer, Selectman Tommy McKenzie asked if Johnson’s question regarded the legality of the executive session or the grievance policy itself.
Johnson later said the board or mayor should have offered a summary of the Feb. 8 executive session then recommended a public hearing on the grievance policy.
Smith presented the board with a document titled “Concerned Citizens at McComb City Council Meeting,” which said, “It is unreasonable to suggest an employee, who is publicly harassed and damaged by their superior, to privately go to that person for relief or fair judgement.”
Smith asked other residents in the audience concerned about the incident to stand, and about 25 did.
“We would like to get this done this evening because if these people are asked to come back, that would be unfair to them,” Smith said. “Some of them would have to change their schedules, and some of them look young enough to have babysitters and things of that nature. ... We understand this board legislates policy and is elected to represent the citizens of McComb.”
Johnson noted that the city administrator serves at the “will and pleasure of the board” and the mayor, by ordinance, “has no power here than to run the meetings.”
Smith continued, saying, “Our one concern is, on Jan. 24, Mr. Lockley publically acted in a manner unbecoming to a city top official.”
Rawlings cut Smith off, saying, “Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith. Your comments, you said this is about participation in board meetings. You don’t need to be talking about Mr. Lockley.”
Smith argued he was talking about citizen participation in board meetings and said restricting public comment takes away the citizens’ responsibility to respond to board decisions.
“If we can’t, and you do something, what do we do about it?” he asked.
Smith asked the board to amend the agenda to allow for comments.
The board had earlier amended the agenda to take action after receiving comments from the McComb Main Street Association’s Libba Alford, who spoke about a Mississippi Department of Archives and History grant application to go toward developing a marketing plan for the Palace Theater.
Alford was also given a 3-minute time limit to offer her comments. She completed her comments in less than the time allotted before the board discussed the matter. Because the grant application has to be mailed by March 1, the board amended the agenda and unanimously approved it.
In denying Smith the floor to continue speaking, Rawlings said, “As chair of this board, I made that decision.”
Smith said Rawlings didn’t have the authority to make that decision. Board attorney Wayne Dowdy said state law allows the mayor of every city to conduct meetings.
“I accept your explanation,” Smith said. “Do we have a right to expect a response to these communications?”
As he did at last week’s work session, Rawlings invited Smith to visit his office any time and suggested contacting selectmen.
Several rows from the board, Robinson yelled, “But according to the charter, sir...”
Rawlings cut her off, and told her she was out of order.
“This is a meeting of the board of mayor and selectmen. We’re here to conduct the business we were elected to do,” Rawlings said. “We’re going to do the business of the city, and I’m not going to receive comments and questions and opinions and those things.”
Robinson again said the board was not following the charter. Rawlings again told her she was out of order.
As the crowd filed out, several citizens gave Lockley their thoughts on the incident and its aftermath.
“You did wrong. That’s a young lady. She’s my pastor,” one said. “It’s two words. I apologize. Say you (were) wrong. He knows he (was) wrong.”
Lockley spoke with several one and one. Lockley later returned to his seat and was silent as the last four audience members berated him about the incident. A few minutes later, Assistant Police Chief Scott McKenzie stepped between Lockley and told the small group to leave.
