JONESBORO — During its Monday, Jan. 8 meeting, the Jonesboro City Council tabled proposed revisions to the rules of procedure and code of conduct for elected officials.
Council member Don Dixon proposed the revisions regarding duties of the mayor, mayor pro tem, council members, ethics and conduct of council members, and council conduct with city staff.
It was determined because some of the revisions would require changes to the city charter, the Council tabled the matter.
City Attorney Winston Denmark said there are “serious issues” with the revisions that impact the Council and mayor and he needed time to review it to determine what can be changed locally and what would require legislation.
There are some changes to the city charter that can be made by the Council while there are others that need to be done through state legislation.
“This document (the proposed revisions) is very restrictive to the current charter as to the powers of the current city mayor,” Mayor Donya Sartor said and added that “This totally changes what I do as a mayor.”
One of the biggest issues of contention in the Jan. 8 meeting was a proposal that would require the mayor to contact the council and mayor pro tem if she is going to outside the Jonesboro city limits for more than 24 hours.
“This is ridiculous,” Sartor said. “I will never tell you if I am gone more than 24 hours unless I am unable to fulfill my role.”
She said the proposed policy is unfair and was like an invasion of privacy.
Sartor said she if she is gone ,she makes arrangements with her staff. It was also discussed that it would be different if she would be going on a long trip — such as a trip abroad.
“What shocks me the most is is the need to do this now while I’m in office — that it’s appropriate now that I’m mayor?” Sartor said.
Sartor also brought up the $225,000…
Read the full article here
