What is McComb’s policy for appointing a mayor pro tempore?
City officials debated that issue Tuesday after Selectman Matt Codding noted that no one has been appointed to the position to serve as the board’s executive officer in the mayor’s absence — and lose their ability to vote except in the case of a tie.
Codding, who frequently participates in meetings by speakerphone, said the mayor and board members may have to miss meetings at times. He recommended Selectwoman at-large Tabitha Felder Issac for mayor pro tem.
“Typically, the position was held by the selectman-at-large in the past. I would like to see this vote come up so that, if anything were to happen, we would still be able to meet going forward,” he said.
Mayor Quoriniah Lockley said he, not the board, appoints the mayor pro tem.
“Just for information, the mayor pro tem position is appointed by the mayor,” he said. “It is not restricted to any one position, any one person. It is selected by the mayor and, at this point, the mayor has not decided which board member he would like to appoint to that position.”
Selectman Tommy McKenzie asked what state law says about the issue.
“The state statute does not address it,” Lockley said. “Because our charter does not address it and because we’re not a code chartered city ... it does not address it.”
“I thought when the charter or ordinance doesn’t address it, then you go to the state,” McKenzie said. “When the charter and the code of ordinance don’t address it and it refers back to the state code that addresses it, which says the mayor can appoint a pro tem.”
He provided a statement after the meeting: “Selectman Codding requested a discussion on appointing a mayor pro tem. Mississippi Code 21-3-13 speaks to this. The mayor pro tem position should have been approved by the new board in the first meeting. Every city board in every past administration had a mayor pro tem. It’s 100% the six board members’ decision whether the mayor recommends someone or not.
“We can’t just make up new rules as we go along. However, there seems to be a pattern of imaginary statements coming from city hall these days.”
The debate included the process Lockley’s predecessor, former Mayor Whitney Rawlings, followed.
“In over 50 years, the mayor has been appointing,” Lockley said. “Even when you served with Whitney Rawlings, Whitney Rawlings appointed that person.”
McKenzie asked board attorney Marcus Williams to look into the legality of appointing a mayor pro tem, which he agreed to do.
“I’m not asking to debate it today,” McKenzie said. “You can come back when you’re prepared for it, but I’m pretty sure the code says the board has the authority to appoint a mayor pro tem. If our code of ordinances and charter does not address it, then what you are saying is made up.”
“I agree with you, but you never said that under Whitney Rawlings,” Lockley said.
Lockley said Rawlings appointed a mayor pro tem without a vote.
“Then Whitney Rawlings made a mistake,” McKenzie replied.
Rawlings said Wednesday that he did not remember the specifics of what occurred with the mayor pro tem position when he was in office, but in general, the board voted on his recommendations.
“If it was appointed on my recommendation, then the board had voted on it,” he said. “They would have said yes or no. My recommendation or not, they still voted on it.”
Codding requested for City Clerk Rosezea Scott to pull meeting minutes that would show how previous pro tems were appointed.
“I would just encourage the mayor to take in consideration the votes of everyone in the city who voted for Ms. Tabitha (Felder Isaac),” Codding said. “She got more votes than anyone else at the table and there is a lot to say about that.”
Felder Isaac appreciated Codding’s recommendation.
“It is an honor, but I prefer that each board member have an opinion,” she said. “I’m just honored.”
