Throwing a Canton School Board member out of a Canton Board of Aldermen public meeting might cost Canton Mayor Dr. William Truly $250 fine. The Mississippi Ethics Commission recommended the fine after School Board member Courtney Rainey filed a complaint against the Mayor.
Ms. Rainey attended a public Board of Aldermen meeting on April 3, 2018. The Mayor and Aldermen asked School Board members to appear at the meeting. Three members attended. However, the Mayor claimed that there was a quorum of the School Board present and told Ms. Rainey to leave. Ms. Rainey is also the Director of Human and Cultural Services for the City of Canton. Ms. Rainey said the Police and Fire Chiefs "walked behind" her as she left the building. The Mayor agreed that he told her to leave the meeting but denied asking anyone to escort her from the premises.
The Commission truly takes Dr. Truly to task in its recommendation of a $250 fine. It said every citizen has a right to attend a public meeting unless the meeting is in executive session. A "public body" such as a school board or a Board of Supervisors can't be prevented from attending a meeting of another public body just because a quorum will be present. The Commission states:
2.4 In the facts described above, it is apparent the mayor asked Ms. Rainey to leave the meeting. The only legal means to exclude anyone from a public meeting is by following the executive session procedure described in Section 25-41-7. The mayor violated Section 25-41-5.
Mayor Truly can request a hearing on the finding of a violation and proposed fine. A proposed hearing is scheduled for July 18 at 10:00 AM. The Mayor has five days to respond after he receives a copy of the preliminary recommendation.
Kingfish note: Here is the backstory. The Canton establishment is no fan of Ms. Rainey. She defeated Hosea Anderson, the brother of CMU Commissioner Cleve Anderson and Uncle of the famed barbecuer in Canton. The section of the Canton Public School District that is around Lake Caroline has not been represented for quite some time. The residents raised hell and Canton was forced to have an election for a school board member to represent that area. Needless to say, the powers that be were not happy that Ms. Rainey even dared to run for the seat.
13 comments:
Is there any complaint against the city attorney for allowing this to happen? Was she present at this meeting giving legal advice?
Good for the MS Ethics Commission. These small town mayors are out of control and most of them despise anyone questioning their "kingdoms".
Ms Rainey is a taxpaying citizen and should have the right to attend ANY meeting of the City of Canton regardless of any elected official's opinion of her.
Get these fines up to $ 2,500.00, or $ 25,000.00 and these mayors won't be so quick to silence their detractors.
2:50 PM Indeed, the fine should be at least $10,000 for violating her constitutional rights.
I don't believe for a minute that the two chiefs escorted her out without some input from the mayor, likely before the meeting. Therefore, they should be fined also.
So small town mayors have "kingdoms" and supervisors have "fiefdoms" and neither like being told what to do. When and where does this stop or must we accept as the way it is? Even for me $250 is NOOOOO deterrent. Geez make it hurt.
I’m sure Ed Blackmon will pay his fine
All the players and beneficiaries of largess in Canton are kin to each other. If you had geneological-research-dogs at all these meetings, they would bark and hit on everybody in the room, twice.
Take a look at County Supervisor Paul Griffin's grandson's-baby-momma who he wiggled in as County Personnel Director as soon as Banks' girl retires. And if your name is Luckett....you be in good shape for the next thirty or so years. It's rampant, systemic and a way of life.
Baby-momma finally married baby daddy couple weeks ago! She was swole and swellin when he gave her the job.
As for truly, this whole thing revolves around the CPS superintendent who scolded Daphne Sims who is a teacher in canton public schools and also an alderman. To me that's a conflict of interest on Mrs Sims part and she should resign one position or the other.
I Cassandra sues the shit out of canton schools, daphne sims, truly,canton board of aldermen and anyone else she can and wins.
Ms Wiliams is a stand up Lady and deserves better.
Anyone provided electrical service by a rural electric power association should also be incensed how board members are elected and reelected time and time again. Take Central Electric in Carthage. Retired General Manager Paul Long's son is now new General Manager. Big Land owner board members stay on rural electrics for life. Then when a board member dies or finally retires, there son takes the vacated spot. One board member for Yazoo Valley Electric has unpaid federal tax liens of over $30,000.00, and "that's" a guy determining peoples electric rates....reeaal nice. Where are you PSC ?
$250.00. what a joke. The Ethics Commission is a protector for crooked politicians.
Check out Madison County Board Supervisors. They voted to pay for Judge Griffin to attend a conference held by THE BLACK CAUCUS (notice last name.) She is Paul Griffin’s daughter and also voted to pay her way to a convention on Gulf Coast that is not mandatory. Two free summer vacations. And Steen says there is excess dirt on Sulfur Springs Road in District 5 that would not cost the county anything if they gave it away. Strange and coincidentally Griffin and his family live on Sulfur Springs Road. Finallg they gave Sheldon Vance's (County Administrator) son the Madison County Board Scholarship.
I have no problem with Sheldons son the scholorship if you knew his backstory he is a walking talking miracle.
@1:28 The remark in no way is a reflection on the son who already has a scholarship to Miss Delta Junior College. I am aware of this young man’s backstory, and wish only great things for him; I however question the Board awarding this financial aid to the family Of Sheldon Vance who is hired and works at the pleasure of the Board.
So; Sheldon is the County Administrator and his son gets a taxpayer scholarship while Griffin's daughter gets two paid casino resort vacations.
Meanwhile, Griffin gets his lake-park in exchange for voting for roadwork on Weisenberger. And Griffin recommends and gets approval for his grandson baby-momma to receive a pay raise and promotion from HR receptionist to HR administrator. And not to be stopped there, Griffin bargains with two others to get the new daughter-in-law-grandbaby-momma put in the HR Director's job when Banks' girl retires soon.
Then a play comes in from the bench where Steen speaks on behalf of a new service station in Gluckstadt that coincidentally will be owned by his employer. And we're still smarting from Steen spending our tax money to pave the parkway in front of Costco so a hundred trucks a day can tear it to hell during construction. He and Gene are still yuckin' it up over that one.
Where is Bishop in all this? He's busy assisting his lawyer who is also suing the Gluckstadt incorporation effort after successfully defending an auto dealership who was in violation of ordinances while Bishop was president (let that sink in). But he's bound and determined to pave Virlilia Road (six million) where his primary contributor/supporter stays. If he can just keep Steen as his 'daddy' and somehow get Paul Griffin back where he belongs on the wrong side of ethics.
And not to be outdone, County Attorney Katie Bryant, while married to one of the Gluckstadt Aldermen designees, is researching the idea of a moratorium for Gluckstadt Storage Facilities. But, what's a little conflict compared to real serious stuff?
Meanwhile, out here we still can't get onto 463 without leaving the house two hours early.
Holy Shades of Rudy, Batman....you can't make this shit up!
Post a Comment