Library appointee to serve 2nd term
Frederick Ursery will serve a second three-year term on the Central Arkansas Library System board of trustees, after a 13-0 vote of approval from the Pulaski County Quorum Court on Tuesday night.
Ursery, 72, is an attorney at Friday, Eldredge & Clark, a Pine Bluff native and a Vietnam War veteran, according to a resume attached with the agenda item.
After earning a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University in 1964, Ursery graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1967 and was admitted to the Arkansas Bar that same year.
Ursery has served on the Old State House Museum board, Downtown Little Rock Kiwanis Club, Pulaski County Red Cross board, Camp Aldersgate board of directors and the Ouachita Girl Scout Council board.
Ursery is one of two county appointees to the 12-member board.
Equalization Board pay raise approved
Pulaski County's nine-member Board of Equalization will be paid $15 more per meeting next year, raising members' pay to $125 per meeting.
The Quorum Court voted 12-1 in favor of the increase Tuesday night.
District 9 Justice of the Peace Wilma Walker, D-College Station, and District 10 Justice of the Peace Robert Green Sr., D-McAlmont, were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
The Board of Equalization hears appeals of property appraisals in the county and typically meets during the span of a couple of months each fall. The board met 26 times last year.
District 5 Justice of the Peace Lillie McMullen, D-Little Rock, said her "heart said 'yes'" but her "mind said 'no'" and voted against the measure.
McMullen said at last week's meeting that she didn't support the increase because many members of public boards across the state don't get paid at all.
Pulaski County Acting Attorney Amanda Mitchell told McMullen on Dec. 9 that the state law establishing the Board of Equalization states that board members must be reimbursed.
Other justices of the peace said they supported the measure because board members have a tough job hearing from people who are largely upset with the county and missing work to do so.
"Unlike some boards, they meet a lot of times over a compressed amount of time," District 15 Justice of the Peace Shane Stacks, R-North Little Rock, said.
Metro on 12/17/2014