Who should sign checks in Pelahatchie? The Mayor won't do it, the Board of Aldermen wants to do it, and the employees want somebody, anybody to do it. WLBT reported last week:
While some employees with the town of Pelahatchie wait for their past due paychecks, town officials can’t give a clear timeline on when those checks will be signed and sent out.
Ward 3 Alderman/Mayor Pro Tempore Margie Warren said the town’s mayor, Ryshonda Beechem, still won’t sign any checks -- including payroll checks -- because Beechem’s lawyer has asked her not to do so, citing the town’s recent financial issues.
Warren said they’re still waiting on the town’s bank to authorize other aldermen to be able to sign instead of Beechem, and had originally thought it would be approved this week, but that process has taken longer.
On Aug. 5, aldermen unanimously approved a measure that would allow three aldermen to be able to sign checks and warrants when the mayor is unavailable or unable to sign.
Three days later, they held a special meeting to approve those minutes.
Warren said those minutes have already been sent to the bank, but the financial institution now wants an audit of the town’s finances before it can move forward.
Beechem said the paycheck delay comes from how the board’s measure was worded -- because it didn’t mention specific board members or "all aldermen -- and the bank requires that.
Beechem also told 3 On Your Side through text messages that she called a special session earlier this week to approve two aldermen by name, but the mayor said no action was taken by the board on that measure.
At least five Pelahatchie employees, including the town clerk and a part-time police officer, still haven’t been paid.
Early Thursday, a member of the Pelahatchie Volunteer Fire Department said the department’s gas cards had been cut off due to nonpayment, but that turned out to be inaccurate.
Warren said further investigation revealed one of the firemen said his fuel card didn’t work and they assumed all cards had been disabled because of the mayor’s refusal to sign checks.
To her knowledge, Warren said the fuelman accounts are in good standing at this point.
Kingfish note: Yeah, it was just a misunderstanding. Fuelman never cut anyone off, blah, blah, blah. That's why the Rankin County Board of Supervisors discussed it in executive session and decided to cover Pelahatchie's fuel needs for fire and police services.
What is funny about this situation (in a macabre sort of way) is that the Mayor raised hell last year about Ms. Warren signing checks. Remember the Ruckus?
It is really quite simple. If part of the Mayor's basic duties is to sign checks, then she needs to sign checks. If she can't or won't sign checks across the board, then perhaps she needs to consider resigning.
22 comments:
How did she manage to get elected in the first place?
Bottom line none of this would be an issue had Knox Ross not played fast and loose with those drug seizure funds.
Alternate signatories should be clearly stated in the town's charter, or in state law; or the board can simply request an AG's opinion. It seems like the town would rather argue over the issue than solve the problem - pitiful, but not surprising for that crowd.
Under the rules, a plurality won the election, not a majority. Two white candidates and the current Mayor, who is black. Mayor Beechem got the most votes but not a majority.
One reason why I don't like plurality wins. Mayor assumed office with 2/3 of the town voting for someone else. A runoff mitigates that problem.
I love how everyone, including this blog, was calling everyone in the town a bunch of racists for opposing her when she came to town. Now that her true colors are showing and everyone is seeing the real reason the town opposed her. Check out her personal Facebook page for some real entertainment.
9:34, it seems to me Beechem is not cleaning up corruption, but adding to it.
KF, your opinion, which is just that, about requiring a majority which would entail a runoff, doesn't hold water just because this instance elected someone that is questionably sane.
Another election, for your runoff, would be the fourth election of the two month period - the turnout for that election would be dismal based on historical records. The concept of a 'majority' being required for legitimacy is a weak one. The thing that makes this circus different was that all three candidate got basically the same vote. Would you feel differently if one of the candidates got 46% rather than 35%?
Or would you feel differently if one of the white candidates got the 35% and was elected with a plurality?
Municipal elections typically have a very low turnout, so a plurality of a minority of Pelahatchie’s voters likely put Beecham into office.
Oh really? Why don't you show where I did? As a matter of fact, I pointed out repeatedly there were two black aldermen who opposed her. Said it was not a race thing.
So go ahead, show where I did. Come on, you can do it.
Seems like the mayor is doing the right thing, under advice of counsel. If the town's finances are shady, she shouldn't sign more shady checks.
And the bank essentially said the same thing - we're not gonna give signing power over to others until we can audit your books. So is the bank wrong also?
The digital lynching of Mayor Beecham continues on Jackson Jambalaya by KKKingfish!
Time to change your name!
You're funny. The Board thinks I'm always taking her side. In fact, one alderman has raised hell about my coverage several times during Board meetings.
The Mayors family sure shows up quick anytime the word Pelahatchie appears in a title...
10:49. The mayor is not doing the right thing. She works for the people. She does not work for her counsel. It is her job to sign those checks. It is not hard to keep this separate from what she is complaining about. No court in this country would hold that against her.
I’m guessing these 5 employees are rethinking the decision not to have direct deposit.
If the advice of her council causes the Mayor not to do what she is charged to do (sign payroll, etc.) which could be, I suppose, a loss of some sort to the folks who do not receive their pay in an agreed upon schedule ... could her council be liable for ... screwin' the pooch?
Is the mayor not signing checks indefinitely or is there an end in sight?
Not buying the "bank wants an audit excuse".
Something else going on.
Ryshonda get up off your tail and pay your employees. They had nothing to do with your vedette. You have done run more good people off than legally allowed. The only one who needs to leave is you. You have our town the laughing stock of the county. Also the race war you are trying to start is not going to work. This is a right vs wrong issue. You run on a lie and nothing has changed since. Everybody can smell a rat.
Actually Ryshonda is not signing checks bc she knows at this point she has screwed up the budget. Having items miscoded transferring funds that she shouldn’t have etc and now Bellinder is telling her not to sign. Funny how she admits her counsel told her not to sign but she tells the staff community and Facebook that the board is responsible. She speaks differently in different arenas. The board wants to sign but they were told they could not bc an audit needs to be performed for their safety due to her mishaps. People don’t realize that she is the only person that has had access to the funds since she has been in office and she is running the town like she runs her home....which home u r correct.... full of disconnect notices. She is not an Accountant as she stated she was. And has financially ruined this town and other individuals lives that she prepared taxes. She is wanting the board to perform her duties. That’s funny bc is this not one thing she has been in the media and trying to sue about, funny. Apparently the board was correct they have never tried to assume her duties because if they had the bills of the town and staff would be paid. Open your eyes people stop looking at color/race. Leave that crutch alone
PERS just called and stated that no payment has been made for the month of July and it’s past due to be paid tomorrow 9000.00 something dollars public employee retirement system. What in the hell has she been paying
Employees did not receive checks again this week. If I were an employee, or spouse of an employee, I would be suing Bellinder and Ryshonda for this shit show. What a bunch of dunces.
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