Mayor, board still at odds

The January 18 meeting of the Holly Springs mayor and board of aldermen hit troubled waters again with the board seeking support from the city attorney to enforce its orders.

The main board order in question remained the aldermen’s order to keep all employees in the city and utility department at their same position and pay rate.

Other board requests were also brought forth again.

Ward 1 Alderman Bernita Fountain asked Mayor Sharon Gipson when the city’s annexation plan would be put back on the agenda.

Gipson requested and was granted a delay in the chancery court’s hearing on the annexation plan until February this year.

Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp asked for an update on the cast-iron replacement project.

Gipson said city attorney John Perry and a private bond attorney were “pulling documents to get a notice to proceed (with work).”

Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather voiced several concerns.

“Where are the December 2021 accounting reports?” she asked.

“I wish to get structure to see the accounts, and get our heads around what we have in these accounts,” she said.

She asked for a timeline on installation of speed bumps in her ward.

“People are driving recklessly down streets,” she said. “These are things we have been talking about for months.

“We also requested directors (department heads) be asked to attend meetings. I’ve received calls people are being moved (in their offices/duties). I ran on being a voice for Ward 4. I have concerns why Mr. (Donald) Warren is not here tonight. I was going to ask him a question to see what is going on in the utility department.

“I suggest they attend. These are people we hired. These are leaders.” The people the board hired to run the departments should be knowledgeable and the board should be comfortable, Merriweather said. People who were to be terminated by Gipson should have an opportunity to be heard, she said.

Gipson said HSUD general manager Donald Warren was not present at the meeting because he was exhausted from helping get the electricity back on in Holly Springs, Marshall and Benton counties following a winter snow and ice event.

“He’s exhausted and also he’s in pain,” Gipson said. “We learned how old we were this weekend jumping out of trucks and climbing trees.”

The Oxford mayor sent people over to assist, she said. She praised the street de- partment workers for clearing the streets. Office staff volunteered to answer the phones. Gipson called the names of utility workers who worked the outages.

“I told them thanks and they said `don’t thank us. We are doing our jobs.’ You are like firemen – 24/7 – We can’t do it without you.”

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel called an executive session to discuss matters of potential litigation and insurance.

Coming out of executive session, Gipson announced no action was taken.

“We will look at the matter tomorrow and make the board aware,” the mayor said.

Shipp said the problem with certain employees not being able to use the time clock should be addressed.

Gipson said she would check to see which employees were affected.

Public comment began next with Denise Quillian, an HSUD employee since 2017, who worked in customer service under Sheronda Barksdale. She said she could not clock in.

Her duties were to take calls for customer service. She has worked drive-through and the front windows taking payments. She picked up the mail and took night deposits.

“I open, sort, and post payments manually. I handle any insufficient checks and chargebacks,” she said. “I check posting of payments at the end of the day for all other customer service representatives. I verify all deposits before taking to the bank to make sure they are correct. I do daily paperwork and check all customer service representatives’ paperwork to make sure it is posted. I have always offered to help in any department when it is needed.”

Quillian said she was not allowed to clock in, and her duties have been changed to answering the phone. She no longer could look up customer information on a computer, she said.

“One man called 10 times,” she said, trying to report a problem. “I was told to pack up my stuff and put it in boxes. I would appreciate it if someone would come and inform me. I am single. I don’t need stress.

“I have heard only gossip that I no longer had a job, yet no one directly has come to me about my service at the utility department.”

She said the stress of not knowing where she stands as an employee is bothering her.

“I was told I was going to stay where I was and it’s very unfair,” Quillian said.

(That was by an order of the board of aldermen to keep all employees in their same positions with the same salary.)

Teel came to her defense. “I’ve known Denise a long time,” he said. “You know we’ve got a problem with how things are done.” Teel expressed disapproval of a text message sent out to some employees telling them they were being let go, calling it “as unprofessional as I’ve ever seen in my life.” Attorney John Perry recommended taking it up in executive session.

Michael Howell, assistant superintendent of the electric department, confronted Mayor Gipson saying she mentioned the names of all the employees who worked the power outages except his name.

“I put in over 50 hours of overtime,” he said. “The board voted there would be no changes (in employee positions or salaries). I get to the utility department and lots of changes were taken.”

His service truck was taken away from him and given to another employee in another department, he said.

`You all (the board of aldermen) voted no changes,” Howell continued.

He said the truck he was driving at work should not have been taken from him and given to another employee.

“I’m like Denise,” he said. “I don’t know what’s taking place day-to-day. I’ve been working here 32 years and she (the mayor) has broke me down in six months.”

He also challenged the mayor’s statement that general manager Warren was out working outages during the snow and ice.

“Warren was not out working, he was in his office,” Howell alleged.

Speaking to attorney Perry, Teel said, “I’m still questioning how we make a motion and you (the mayor) take it down.”

“I think you voted on something and it carries forward,” Perry said.

“I don’t know what else to do,” Teel said. “My power is in my vote. If it is not valid, shame on me.” “I think if you are saying specifically how to undo whatever is happening and if a question on the decision was made the other night, orders are to be followed, Perry said. “It’s my understanding it is.” “It should be in chambers (executive session),” Gipson said. “These are false statements and misstatements tonight.

“I’ve been here six months. Even if an employee has been here 40 years, that does not mean a job belongs to you. I have not pushed a lot because I’m clear I am supervisor of employees and I have the right.

“It’s a personnel matter. The person talking I know on a personal basis. I will be happy to go into executive to address concerns.”

“Less than 12 hours after a motion is done, you go and do the exact opposite,” Teel said.

“Madam mayor, you went out there the next morning,” Merriweather said. “These citizens are voicing their concerns.”

“These are appointments made,” Gipson said.

The board then went into closed session and then into executive session.

Upon coming out of executive session an hour later, Gipson said the board had taken no action.

Teel and Shipp made a motion and a second to adjourn the meeting and it passed.