Resolutions calling for a state police investigation into the Pine Bluff Street Department and the city’s Code Enforcement Department that Council Member Steven Mays has proposed have other members of the council scratching their heads.
Those resolutions are on the agenda when the council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
One of the resolutions says that “alleged improprieties in the operation of the city’s Street Department deserve to be investigated by the Arkansas State Police, or some other appropriate independent entity with investigative powers, to assure the public that the allegations will be fully reviewed without undue influence.”
The second, which deals with Code Enforcement says that alleged improprieties “have been investigated by the Police Department and reported to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office … and to ensure public confidence that the allegations will be fully looked into, the Mayor should request the Arkansas State Police or some other independent entity to step in and investigate the matter.”
“I don’t know what he is talking about,” Council member Bruce Lockett said Friday. “I am not aware of anything in any city department that would warrant an outside investigator.”
Council Member Glen Brown Jr., said he could’t make a comment “because I don’t know any details” while Council Member Win Trafford said “I don’t know what he is referring to but it will not get a second from me.”
In order for any legislation to be discussed, it must be introduced and receive a second.
Council member Ivan Whitfield, who like Mays is challenging current Mayor Shirley Washington in the March Democratic Primary called the resolutions “totally unnecessary” while Council Member Donald Hatchett said “I do not support (the resolutions).”
“I don’t think he (Mays) understands how something like this affects potential businesses in the city,” Council Member Joni Alexander said. “I don’t like people to use political platforms to disrupt the business of the city.”
How the resolutions will be viewed by people in other parts of the state was also important to Lockett who said it affects not only how people look at the city but how they look at the council.
Lockett went on to say that he didn’t think Mays understood that resolutions like the ones Mays proposed would not receive “a lot of air”(discussion) during the meeting.
Council member Lloyd Holcomb Jr., said Friday he did not want to comment, adding that he didn’t know what Mays was talking about.
A call to Mays seeking comment was not returned Friday afternoon.
In other business Monday, the council will consider a resolution that will authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Johanson Group to conduct a job evaluations , market pay and compensation study for the city.
According to the resolution, the Arkansas Municipal League has an agreement with the Johnason Group to perform this service at a reduced cost, which in the case of Pine Bluff would be $29,900.
Other agenda items include a revision of the Police Department’s Policies and Procedures Manual which will limit officers to taking no more than 15 days of vacation between Jan. 1 and Nov. 15, while permitting them to take five additional days between Nov. 15 and the end of the year.
Police Chief Kelvin Sergeant asked for the change at a previous meeting of the council’s Public Safety Committee. He explained that under the existing policy, offices could take vacation through the end of the year and many officers waited until the end of the year to take those vacation days, limiting the number of officers and particularly supervisors around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Another ordinance on the agenda Monday would waive competitive bidding and allow the Police Department to buy five new police cars for the Detective division from Smart Chrysler Dodge. The state contract price for the cars was listed as $22,243 each and Smart is willing to match that [rice, the resolution said.
Also Monday, a resolution appointing Diane Tatum to a full term on the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Port Authority Board will be considered. Tatum served the balance the term of a former board member which expired Dec. 31.