Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said someone is dropping the ball at the police department when it comes to delivering the board packets used to prepare for city council meetings in a timely manner.
“I know that our agendas are sent to us on our iPads,” Brent said during the Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting this week. “But I guess I am old-fashioned. I like hard copies, and I like to get my package on time.”
Brent said he didn’t get his board packet delivered by a police officer until late Sunday night.
“I understand that these packets came out last Thursday,” he continued. “And I got my packet late last night.”
Ward 3 Alderman Rev. Gregory Robertson said not receive his packet until late the night before Monday’s meeting.
“With the items that we have to vote on that can send us to jail if we don’t vote correctly...” Brent said. “Auditors will be up here, and we are held liable for those items we have to vote on.”
Brent said the blame lies within the police department.
“If there are any problems in that police department where one shift cannot work with the other shift in terms of getting our board packets out on time, then I am going to have serious problems with the police department,” he said. “These packets should come to us in time to be read. I know they have been in this police department since Thursday, and they sat on a desk.”
Brent said that is unacceptable.
“Our business is too serious,” he said. “These police officers need to understand that they have an obligation.”
Brent reminded the board that if they can’t vote on payroll, then city workers do not get paid.
“We have a lot of items we have to vote on,” Brent said. “We cannot do that from 9 p.m. until the meeting day, which is the next day at 2 p.m.”
Brent said he spoke with Chief Jeff Curtis about the matter.
“He did tell me that he would look into it, and it would not happen again,” Brent said.
