McComb needs a new form of government, Mayor Quordiniah Lockley said Tuesday as he asked the city board to consider ditching the city’s special charter and adopt another set of governing principles.
Lockley took issue with the fact that the city board can — and in the past has — changed how much authority the mayor holds in city government.
“The board should not have the authority to change the ordinance and say we’re going to take those duties from the mayor,” Lockley said. “I just think the City of McComb is beyond that type of government and I will be encouraging the board in the future to consider a different type of government.
“Right now, the duties of the mayor can be changed by this board at any time, except for the fact that I am still the presiding officer.”
Board attorney Marcus Williams also noted that the mayor has some duties that are outlined in the city charter, but Lockley noted, “There are not many of those.”
Selectman Tommy McKenzie asked Lockley which form of government he would recommend.
Lockley said a code charter form of government, which is what most Mississippi municipalities are, might be the most ideal.
“I will be making a recommendation at some point,” he said.
Williams said a referendum to change the form of government might be required “depending on which ones you choose.”
Selectman Matt Codding asked if a code charter reverses the existing strong-board, weak-mayor form of government currently in place.
“Not necessarily,” Wil-liams said.
He noted that the mayor has no veto power, but that would change under a code charter.
Later in the meeting, Codding asked about a number of issues, including which city employees the mayor supervises.
Williams read from the charter and noted that the mayor supervises “all officers of the city” who are in appointed positions, including most department heads, although it appears the charter has some overlapping supervisory responsibilities between the mayor and city administrator for certain positions.
