The Helena-West Helena City Council met informally Tuesday night to “iron out” several unresolved issues including the proper procedure for promoting police officers and firefighters.
“There are a lot of issues that have not been addressed fully,” Alderman Joe St. Columbia Sr. said Tuesday afternoon prior to the meeting. Mayor James Valley said he would not attend the meeting.
St. Columbia said neither he, nor Aldermen Jay Hollowell, Bruce Hudson and others were opposed to promotions, but that Mayor Valley did not allow the Civil Service Commission to handle the promotion procedures.
“We don’t want the firefighters and police officers demoted or their salary reduced,” St. Columbia said. “What we wanted was for them to take the tests before being promoted.”
Mayor Valley promoted 21 police officers and firefighters Dec. 30, 2009. The mayor and City Attorney Andre Valley said the council’s action reinstituting the Civil Service Commission was not done properly.
The council approved a revised ordinance March 2 to re-establish the Civil Service Commission, naming the same seven members who were appointed in 2009.
“We’re not through with that issue,” St. Columbia said.
St. Columbia cited the other following issues that were to be aired Tuesday night:
• Financial issues. “Where’s the money going?” St. Columbia said. “We’re still not getting monthly reports from the Treasurer (Michael Boone).”
• Base pay. An ordinance that outlines pay grades has not been approved.
• Community police protection.
• Bricks and metal from the old Coca Cola plant that was torn down at the corner of Ohio and Perry Streets. “How much are bricks worth,” St. Columbia asked. “How much iron was taken from the site. Where was it sold and how much money did it bring.”
• The “big hole” in front of the David Ross residence at 127 Valley Drive. Ross appeared at a council meeting in 2009 asking when the city planned to correct the drainage problem.
• Consolidation of the city clerk and treasurer positions. The council is expected to adopt the third reading of an ordinance at its March 16 meeting to have those positions combined. The consolidated position would appear on the November general election ballot and it would take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
Hollowell served as mayor pro tem at the meeting requested March 2 by Hudson.
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The Helena-West Helena City Council met informally Tuesday night to “iron out” several unresolved issues including the proper procedure for promoting police officers and firefighters.
“There are a lot of issues that have not been addressed fully,” Alderman Joe St. Columbia Sr. said Tuesday afternoon prior to the meeting. Mayor James Valley said he would not attend the meeting.
St. Columbia said neither he, nor Aldermen Jay Hollowell, Bruce Hudson and others were opposed to promotions, but that Mayor Valley did not allow the Civil Service Commission to handle the promotion procedures.
“We don’t want the firefighters and police officers demoted or their salary reduced,” St. Columbia said. “What we wanted was for them to take the tests before being promoted.”
Mayor Valley promoted 21 police officers and firefighters Dec. 30, 2009. The mayor and City Attorney Andre Valley said the council’s action reinstituting the Civil Service Commission was not done properly.
The council approved a revised ordinance March 2 to re-establish the Civil Service Commission, naming the same seven members who were appointed in 2009.
“We’re not through with that issue,” St. Columbia said.
St. Columbia cited the other following issues that were to be aired Tuesday night:
• Financial issues. “Where’s the money going?” St. Columbia said. “We’re still not getting monthly reports from the Treasurer (Michael Boone).”
• Base pay. An ordinance that outlines pay grades has not been approved.
• Community police protection.
• Bricks and metal from the old Coca Cola plant that was torn down at the corner of Ohio and Perry Streets. “How much are bricks worth,” St. Columbia asked. “How much iron was taken from the site. Where was it sold and how much money did it bring.”
• The “big hole” in front of the David Ross residence at 127 Valley Drive. Ross appeared at a council meeting in 2009 asking when the city planned to correct the drainage problem.
• Consolidation of the city clerk and treasurer positions. The council is expected to adopt the third reading of an ordinance at its March 16 meeting to have those positions combined. The consolidated position would appear on the November general election ballot and it would take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
Hollowell served as mayor pro tem at the meeting requested March 2 by Hudson.
