Statements laced with racial overtones and innuendo marred Monday night's Indianola Board of Aldermen meeting and prohibited the completion of the scheduled agenda.
One of the first occurrences happened during the call for any changes to the agenda. Alderman Marvin Elder stated, “At the last regular meeting, the board voted to hire a full-time clerk but I see you’ve got down here on number five, approval to advertise for a city prosecutor, part-time accountant and city attorney, but we voted for a full-time clerk.”
Rosenthal attempted to point out a document that he said was presented to the aldermen, but Elder interrupted noting that he was aware of the document. “That is my veto,” Rosenthal said.
Elder began to query the mayor. “Is this more about… you spoke it was about money.” Rosenthal responded, “No, I said it was not about money.”
The dialog continued, “If it’s not about the money, what’s it about then?” Elder asked.
“It’s about the city clerk performing the duties that are required. She’s got three assistants,” said Rosenthal.
Then Elder said, “Mayor, I’m going to say this about number five. (The item’s placement on the agenda) If it’s not about money, then it’s pure blatant racism.”
“Excuse me?” said Rosenthal.
“You heard me,” Elder replied.
“Maybe on your part, not mine,” retorted Rosenthal. The issue came up again a little later in the session.
In addition, when Rosenthal mentioned adding citizens’ complaints about water leaks at the request of Alderman Gary Fratesi and putting it on the early part of the agenda, Alderman Sam Brock objected and asked why it couldn’t be placed towards the end with the departmental reports.
Rosenthal explained, “Anytime we have local citizens to make a presentation, we’ve always put them early on the agenda.” Brock contested if that was the policy and he also insisted on the citizens, who came to discuss water leaks, raising their hands.
Brock said the leaks are nothing new and alluded to leaks in other parts of the city. “Because I done called Mr. Spurlock enough to hire a whole new crew about water holes in the city,” he said.
Brock continued to question the addition of and placement of the item. Then he said, “Because we have plenty of them across the track and ain’t nobody put none on there.”
Rosenthal attempted to explain that the issue was not specific to any part of town only to have Brock interrupt.
“But what you do, and excuse my mannerisms tonight, what you do, Alderman Elder done already told you. You go out there fishing and you fix the ones you want to fix. I have called Mr. Spurlock enough about a leak down there on Jefferson for it to be fixed twice,” Brock said.
He then mentioned other spots and in the course of his monologue accused Rosenthal of favoritism. “You treat everybody different up here,” he said.
“That’s a lie!” said Rosenthal.
“You’re another lie,” said Brock.
Alderman Darrell Simpson spoke up and said that to the best of his knowledge, the persons present called and asked to be added to the agenda. Fratesi added that the citizens who came were just like Brock, persons who have called over and over with no results.
Brock also asked a question when Rosenthal attempted to add a discussion about a street repair machine to the agenda. “I just want to know do you follow the same protocol with all of the aldermen or do you (have) certain stipulations?” Brock asked.
Rosenthal replied, “No sir, if it’s a timely matter that’s the only thing we do.” Brock then asked questions regarding the machine and Rosenthal told him it was one they had discussed previously, but had been tabled. “Y’all asked for more information, which I emailed out to all of you the next day,” he said.
Brock voiced his opinion that the machine was not an emergency or time-sensitive matter. “He had time to put it on like everybody else have their time so, I think you need to be consistent, put it on the next agenda. If we’re not consistent then we have problems.”
Rosenthal contended that the matter was on a call meeting agenda, but the meeting was not held because they failed to get a quorum.
He mentioned the citizens who have been complaining about street repairs and alluded to the machine having been on the agenda six times without any action.
However, he relented and deleted the item at Brock’s insistence. “I’ll remove it, but the people will understand who cancelled it again,” he said.
Brock said, “We don’t have no problem with that.”
The vote was taken and the agenda was finally approved.
