JONESBORO — In a 3-3 vote during its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, the Jonesboro City Council failed to approve revised rules of procedure and code of conduct for elected officials.
The vote was Don Dixon, Billy Powell and Bobby Lester voting for while Asjah Miller, Alfred Dixon and Mayor Donya Sartor voting against. Mayor Pro Tem Tracey Messick was absent.
There was some question on whether Sartor was allowed to vote but City Attorney Winston Denmark said that according to the city’s charter, the mayor could vote.
The revised rules of procedure and code of conduct presented by Don Dixon addressed several topics but the biggest point of contention was a proposal that would require the mayor to notify the Council if the mayor was outside Jonesboro city limits for more than 24 hours.
“You don’t have the right to make me accountable to you of my daily comings and goings beyond 24 hours,” Sartor said. “Therefore if you choose to proceed with enhancing this ordinance I will file an action with Superior Court and request that the ordinance be declared unlawful and unenforceable.”
Sartor also stressed that the rule was not in place for previous mayors and she would not be subject to it.
“If you want more suing and more attorney fees, have it at,” she said.
She did say that if there were situations where she could not perform her duties as mayor, she would let the City know.
“My absence is not defined by geographic location — it is defined by my inability to perform my duties as mayor,” Sartor said and added that “It’s plantation behavior if I tell the truth.”
Miller said she had concerns with the proposal because it was written by one council member and there was no consensus to it.
She said she wanted to know the reason behind not only the 24-hour rule but other changes to the code of conduct as well.
In a Jan. 8…
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