In his customary READY-FIRE-AIM approach to city government, the mayor, yet again, made a fool of himself at the November 4 City Council meeting.
This time he tried to dissolve the entire Park Board. Why? Who knows? He didn’t give a reason; he just said “Right now, I feel it is best.”
To get the ball rolling, the mayor asked for a motion. Ray Mortimeyer was quick to comply and made the motion to bring the issue before the aldermen. Joyce Hartzell promptly seconded it. Now the fate of the Park Board was officially on the table for consideration.
But Jeff Bouse apparently didn’t get the memo that the mayor wanted to get rid of the Park Board and expected the aldermen to do his dirty work. Jeff asked a most reasonable question: “Why are you doing this? What is the REAL reason?” The mayor’s lame response: “Right now I feel it is best.”
But Jeff, holding up a fistful of papers, reminded the mayor: “You said today on the phone that if we showed proof of when they got appointed and when their terms were up…” Clearly not wanting a word of truth to taint the discussion, the mayor rudely interrupted Jeff: “I’m looking at it,” the mayor said. Jeff, just as quickly and holding up the documents again, responded; “I’ve got the proof right here.”
Those who have the misfortune to be required to deal with the mayor, even infrequently, probably know he does not tolerate well those who refuse to serve as his personal echo chamber. As the ‘discussion’ between the mayor and Jeff continued, Jeff suggested tabling the issue until the entire board was present (two members were absent); the mayor testily refused.
Earlier in the meeting, the mayor told members of the Park Board that they could choose to speak either during citizen participation or when the Park Board issue was called for the aldermen’s attention; they chose to wait for the issue to be called. Jeff now asked that members of the Park Board be permitted to speak. When the mayor refused to allow them to do so, Jeff asked why? The mayor’s arrogant response “But I run this meeting.”
Well, HEIL KEVIN!
The mayor undoubtedly thought Jeff would shut up and get in line so the aldermen could get on with his personal desire to mistreat the Park Board. I suspect he could never, in his wildest dreams, have imagined what Jeff did next…JEFF WALKED OUT OF THE MEETING!
To understand the significance of Jeff’s action, you need to know that to conduct business, a board must have a quorum. Our Board of Aldermen has six members; four are required to make a quorum. Two of the members did not attend the meeting, so when Jeff walked out, he took the precious quorum with him. With only three aldermen left, the meeting came to a screeching halt. The remaining aldermen could not conduct business. The Park Board was saved…at least until the next meeting.
Those of us who are of a certain age remember watching Saturday morning westerns where the hero, against all odds, at great risk to himself, stood alone and did what needed to be done. Jeff was the hero of the board meeting. He alone had the courage to stand up to the reckless mayor.
In the movie world, this would be called a cliffhanger. We will have to wait until the next meeting on November 18 at 6 p.m. at City Hall to find out what happens next.
I invite you all to attend.
Jackie Hunt
Cuba
