Road Manager

Before you read this posting, go back to the posting on Mon, 10 Oct 2011.

Okay, so now you have the background. Today the Board of Supervisors chose to replace the Tunica County Road Manager. Here's the problem. Three of the 5 Supervisors are ... well ... new. Did the new superevisors know the history concerning the loss of reimbursement before they made their decision? Hmmm, I don't know if they did or not. Based on the information I gathered on this subject from attending Board of Supervisors' Meetings, I would have made the same decision. Frankly, I was appalled at the Road Manager's attitude toward this problem. That's why I wrote about it on 10 Oct.

All of that being said, it appeared to me that some employment decisions were decided by the Board of Supervisors before today's meeting. Here are two examples:

1. After the Road Manager was not rehired, the Board of Supervisors did not decide to advertise for this vacancy. All five Supervisors voted to appoint Joe Eddy Hawkins. (See Democratic Executive Committee on this blog posted 31 Mar 2011). Joe Eddy Hawkins is the same member of the DEC who thought it was okay to certify Jerry Gentry to run for the Superintendent's job and Hawkins openly admitted they knew Gentry lived in Memphis. So, we are expecting Hawkins to follow FEMA regulations so we will be eligible for reimbursement?

2. The next appointment has to do with the Comptroller. Another job that was not advertised. This position went to Lawonda Knighten who has been attending Board of Supervisors' Meetings for a good while.

So, if these positions were talked about and agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors before this morning's meeting, this would be a violation of the MS Open Meeting Law.

Additionally, what happened to all the complaints about job descriptions and advertising for open positions? The Employee Handbook allows for the interdepartmental transfer of employees. Lawonda Knighten is already employed in the Comptroller's Dept. but I can't find Joe Eddie Hawkins anywhere. What are his qualifications for the job?