Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton who has struggled in recent month to control town board sessions started Monday night’s session by laying down ground rules for acceptable behavior for the audience and commissioners. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The discord, disorder and at times acrimony that have marred Mount Olive Town Board meetings for the past several months were all but missing during Monday night’s session.
Mayor Jerome Newton, who has struggled at times to maintain order in recent months among the audience as well as board members, made it clear from the start that Monday’s session was a town board meeting and not a circus.
Newton laid down his expectations of acceptable audience and board behavior prior to the start of the meeting’s public forum.
He warned that audience members who failed to comply could be escorted from the board room, and warned board members could also face consequences if they failed to comply.
And with just a few exceptions, audience members and commissioners abided by Newton’s admonitions.
Newton called down Commissioners Vicky Darden and Delreese Simmons, and one audience member, as commissioners made their comments during the closing minutes of the hour-long session.
Another audience member was escorted from the building after the meeting had ended.
In her remarks, Darden addressed local community activist Rand King for being critical of last month’s Black History Month Parade of which she is a long-time organizer.
Darden told King that people had been telling her that he had been talking bad about the parade.
“Commissioner Darden,” Newton said.
“OK,” she said. “I just wanted to let him know — you should come to me and tell me about the parade. I am doing the best I can, while I can.
“So if you have anything to say about the parade, just let me know because the ones you are talking to are my kin people.”
“OK, commissioner, I think he got it,” Newton said.
As the meeting ended, an apparently upset King approached Darden. They were quickly separated, and King escorted out of the room.
Newton called out Simmons after he launched an attack on the N.C. Pickle Festival that prompted a response from a woman in the audience.
Simmons said the Pickle Festival needs to have a meeting with the town because there is no contract between the two.
“But we have got to spend about $40,000 probably, and we ain’t going to make a dime,” he said.
“But you are going to have tens of thousands of people come to the town,” an audience member said.
“The town still isn’t going to make a dime,” Simmons added.
Newton quickly interrupted Simmons, who tried to continue by saying again that the town does not make a dime off of the festival.
“Commissioner Simmons. Commissioner Simmons,” Newton said.
The audience member tried to speak again, and Newton replied, “Excuse me ma’am. That’s it. Thank you.”
Meeting procedures addressed
Newton opened the meeting by reminding those wanting to address the board they have to adhere by the three-minute time limit. In previous sessions, some speakers have ignored that limit and have been allowed to speak longer.
“If you need more time, you may request (more),” he said. “However, there is no guarantee more time will be granted.”
Additionally, Newton asked those addressing the board not to attack board members or town staff and to send all complaints to him or interim town manager Glenn Holland.
“I also ask that there is no outburst from the floor,” Newton said. “You will be warned. If you continue to do so, you may be removed from the board room. If a commissioner is speaking, or anyone has the floor speaking, please allow that person the respect to finish speaking.”
Newton reminded attendees wanting to speak they must first address the chair and be recognized, and only after being recognized would they be allowed to address the board.
“If you fail to do that, you may stand a chance of not being recognized,” he added.
Newton also warned board members against attacking fellow commissioners.
“If you have an issue with a board member, address that issue with them outside of the meeting,” he said. “Again, do not attack a board member during the meeting.
“If a commissioner should attack another commissioner, you will be warned and your time will be seized. Failure to comply could result in other avenues of action. Please govern yourselves accordingly. This is a town hall meeting. It is not a circus. We appreciate if you would abide by those things, and we will move forward.”
