Tempers flared at the Eastman City Council meeting on Monday, March 11, because the council would not appoint a member to the Dodge County/Eastman Development Authority that night.
The first item on the council’s agenda was an appointment of (a city council member) to the development authority.
Discussion gets heated at council meeting
Councilman Raymond Mullis made a motion to appoint councilman Buddy Pittman to the authority. Pittman seconded the motion. Council chairman Bobby Slye asked for a vote. Mullis and Pittman voted in favor and Slye and councilman Floyd Walker voted against. Chairman Slye then stated that he wanted to postpone the appointment until May 1 because of rumors and he wanted things to have a chance to settle down.
Eastman/Dodge County Chamber of Commerce President Judy Madden then addressed the council. She stated, in an irritated tone, that she needed for the council to go ahead and appoint someone tonight to the authority. She said that two or three of the authority members were against anything positive for Dodge County and that she needed the other member.
After more heated debate, Chairman Slye told Madden that she would have to wait on the appointment until May 1.
Chairman Slye said that he knew that Pittman wanted the appointment and made the motion that Pittman be appointed to the authority as of May 1. The motion was seconded by Walker and the vote was unanimously in favor.
After all the council business was taken care of, it was time for public participation.
Faye Jessup spoke to the council and asked them about the late David Rawlins’ vacant seat on the city council. Chairman Slye told Jessup that the council was deciding what to do about the vacancy.
Jessup said that she had heard rumors that the council was going to wait until the election (in November) to fill the seat. Chairman Slye again told Jessup that the council had not decided what to do at the present time, but was in the process of deciding what to do.
Willie Belle Rawlins, wife of the late David Rawlins, told the council that she wanted the council to appoint her to fill the unexpired term of her late husband as they had done by appointing Floyd Walker to fill the unexpired term of his wife Idelle Walker after she resigned due to health reasons. Chairman Slye thanked Rawlins for her input.
Then, Madden came before the council again. She became more irritated with chairman Slye and asked him if he made his decisions on rumors. More heated debate continued between them until chairman Slye told her that the discussion was over.
Eastman/Dodge County Chamber of Commerce President Judy Madden then addressed the council. She stated, in an irritated tone, that she needed for the council to go ahead and appoint someone tonight to the authority. She said that two or three of the authority members were against anything positive for Dodge County and that she needed the other member.
After more heated debate, Chairman Slye told Madden that she would have to wait on the appointment until May 1.
Chairman Slye said that he knew that Pittman wanted the appointment and made the motion that Pittman be appointed to the authority as of May 1. The motion was seconded by Walker and the vote was unanimously in favor.
After all the council business was taken care of, it was time for public participation.
Faye Jessup spoke to the council and asked them about the late David Rawlins’ vacant seat on the city council. Chairman Slye told Jessup that the council was deciding what to do about the vacancy.
Jessup said that she had heard rumors that the council was going to wait until the election (in November) to fill the seat. Chairman Slye again told Jessup that the council had not decided what to do at the present time, but was in the process of deciding what to do.
Willie Belle Rawlins, wife of the late David Rawlins, told the council that she wanted the council to appoint her to fill the unexpired term of her late husband as they had done by appointing Floyd Walker to fill the unexpired term of his wife Idelle Walker after she resigned due to health reasons. Chairman Slye thanked Rawlins for her input.
Then, Madden came before the council again. She became more irritated with chairman Slye and asked him if he made his decisions on rumors. More heated debate continued between them until chairman Slye told her that the discussion was over.
Irate is a pretty superfluous adjective for Mrs. Madden's demeanor during the proceedings. If anyone should be called out it should be Bobby Slye for the belligerent avuncularity he displayed when he repeatedly yelled at Mrs. Madden to sit down.
We understand that Mr. Slye is more adept at Robert's Rules of Order than us common citizens in the audience, but it would be nice if he would announce the results of all votes before he introduces additional motions.
I believe the record shows that they ran their campaigns with intigrity, dignity, and respect for other members of the city council. Certainly, as they learned of issues that they believed were burdensome to the growth of our city, they both spoke up about them. As they should have.
Slinging mud on this forum isn't helpful in my opinion.