Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Time and money top council's Feb. meeting

In a unanimous vote, members of the Prescott City Council approved an ordinance that will change the time of the regular council meetings. But in a split vote, the council narrowly approved an ordinance that outlines an attendance policy for the council - including the fact that council members can miss only one meeting before being penalized with the loss of pay for the missed meetings.

The question of pay for council members was discussed at the January council meeting. When councilman James Cornelius brought the proposal before the council then, he cited requests from constituents in his district as the reason for his interest. He also cited Arkansas law that requires action on such a proposal be conducted during the first meeting of the year.

Cornelius suggested that council members be allowed to miss one regular meeting in a calendar year without penalty. On the second missed meeting, an absent council member gives up payment for that meeting as well as any additional meetings missed during that year.

Councilman Jerry Wilson suggested an excused absence policy. As an example, Wilson said that a council member who had missed one meeting then lost a close relative shouldnt be penalized for missing a meeting because of a death in the family. The citys attorney said the council could include a clause for excused absences, but said those specific reasons would have to be outlined. After some additional discussion, Wilson agreed that the simpler rule would be most effective.

Council member Susie Meeks objected, saying that the meetings she misses are because of her job.

The council introduced the ordinance during the February meeting and passed the new plan in a vote of 8-3. Meeks was joined in her dissent by council members Gary Lowdermilk and Elaine Williams.

Council members will not be penalized for missing any special meetings, according to the ordinance.

On the subject of a meeting time, the council unanimously approved a plan to change the time of regular meetings to 5:30 p.m. The council has previously met at 7 p.m. but members cited the inconvenience of a later meeting time as the reason for the change. Several other governing bodies in the county meet earlier in the evening so that members can finish the business of the body and get home at an earlier hour.

Another point made regarding the meeting time is that council members wont have to go home and wait for the council meeting time.

The date for council meetings has not been changed from the third Monday of each month.

In other business, the council approved a ban on leaf burning in the city. The ban will go into effect in early March and carries fines of $25 to $100 for violating the law.