An unexpected early departure from Ward 4 Alderman Marvin Elder left the remaining Indianola Board of Aldermen scrambling as they tried to continue city business. The board was short two members before Elder’s untimely exit with the absence of Mayor Ken Featherstone and Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi. Vice Mayor and Ward 3 Alderman Rueben Woods conducted the meeting in Featherstone’s absence.
According to MS Code § 21-9-39 (2013), a majority of the members constitute a quorum, and the quorum required by this section may be established by teleconference or video means as provided in Section 25-41-5(2)(b). “We’re not in a quorum,” Ward 3 Alderman Darryl Simpson said moments after Elder exited the building.
City clerk Khanelia Williams called Fratesi to continue the meeting per the Mississippi code. “Alderman Elder left the meeting, so we don’t have a quorum,” Williams told Fratesi over the phone, “We need to get the docket and the rest of these things approved.”
The aldermen were pressed for time after Fratesi agreed to join and stated that he only had 15 minutes. With little to no discussion, the board completed the five remaining items and the executive session in that time frame.
Elder left around 8:30 pm without providing a reason why and the city lawmakers did not expect Elder to go in the way he did. “I know he didn’t do that,” Woods said in disbelief minutes after Elder left. “He’s mad,” Williams said, referring to a heated discussion surrounding the recording of minutes earlier in the meeting.
Although the board didn’t know Elder would be leaving early, he stated, “I am not done with it,” after discussing the recording of the meetings during the last session. Elder proved that statement to be true when he requested that to add the matter to the agenda as old business Monday night. Elder did not come to this meeting empty-handed. He presented a State of Mississippi Local Government Records retention schedule stating that it verified his claims.
Ultimately, the discussion became heated, requiring the Woods to bang the gamble multiple times to regain order in the meeting. Ward 3 Alderman Darryl Simpson did not understand why Elder wanted to have an additional discussion about the recordings.
“As an elected official, I think I have every right in the world to bring this backup,” Elder said. “After we had a conflict that we weren’t’ (recording) before.”
“Why would we have a conflict if we already agreed to it?” Simpson responded.
Elder and Williams argued whether or not recording minutes was state law.
“The only thing I’m saying is what the state law is saying,” Elder said.
“But that ain’t the state law,” Williams said. “That says local records retention schedule. That’s what you have. That’s not the law. So don’t misrepresent facts.”
Ward 3 Alderman Darryl Simpson made the motion as Elder and Williams debated, but no one followed with a second. Elder made a motion minutes later to record the meeting going forward and follow what the retention schedules suggested.
“I tried to make the motion a while ago and got shut down, so I’m abstaining from this one,” Simpson said to Elder. “I tried to do the right thing, but you wouldn’t let me.”
Elder’s motion failed for the lack of a second.
“Moving right along,” Woods said. “ It’s a done deal.”
