SCOTT CITY MAYOR DISBANDS CITY BOARD

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Police Personnel Board was dissolved by Mayor Jerry Cummins at a City Council meeting Monday night.

The only explanation the mayor gave was, "I'm the mayor, I can do that."

The Scott City Council had approved a series of changes to the board that caused a rift between the council and board.

First the council appointed the wife of council member J.T. Gulley to the board in August as a sixth member to the five-member board. Then the council passed an ordinance in September that restructured the board so that it was split equally between Democrats and Republicans and Cummins recommended the board go to a six-member format.

The council then approached the idea of going to a four-member board and eliminate two members. That prompted the board members to meet at the council's last meeting in October to protest.

"We voiced our opinions and the powers that be didn't like it," board vice-chairman Lloyd Young said. "No one got out of line. There was no profanity, no threats, no nothing. All we did was get up and voice our opinion."

"I thought it was handled pretty good," board chairman Jay Cassout said. "There was some yelling going on but there always is."

Cummins, who was not at the last meeting, said he made the decision after reviewing the minutes of that meeting. The measure passed 4-2 with Fred Lange and Norman Brant voting no; Brenda Moyers was absent and Marsha Zimmerman abstained.

Young said the mayor broke a city ordinance with his action.

"The mayor basically violated the law tonight again," he said. "It says right in their own ordinance that you cannot fire the entire police personnel board until you replace us with qualified appointees. He didn't appoint anyone to take our place."

Brant, who had recommended -- and Cummins had approved -- a program where the city would recognize the positive volunteer actions of its citizens with a plaque, said the action was wrong.

"This is just a slap in the face to the people who have served on that board," he said. "These people have donated their time, done a good job and now they just get kicked off without explanation."

Brant and Moyers told the mayor that they are going to donate about $350 of their council pay to a permanent plaque that would display the names of Scott City residents who have worked to improve the city.