Tuesday’s implementation of a consent agenda by the Starkville Board of Aldermen could be the last time it’s used this year, as Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins said Friday he’ll again favor handling all matters of city business one at a time at the board table.
Perkins, who has drawn criticism from fellow aldermen after repeatedly blocking the consent agenda this and last year, said his constituents — those inside Ward 6 and throughout Starkville — want board members to “do their jobs” and transact city business before the public, one item at a time.
Other aldermen, however, have said the mayor pro tempore’s policy is ineffective since no actual discussion occurs during “lightning rounds” at the end of meetings.
“I’m not the bad guy,” Perkins said. “I have a right to represent the people in the best and fullest of ways possible. If we had more people like that in government, then government would be a lot better. Don’t complain to me about a right that I’m entitled to exercise. There’s no need for rushing. If (other aldermen) feel like they need to rush, then maybe they need to reassess their situation and ask, ‘Is this job cut out for me?'”
Consent agendas are built with pending motions, ranging from travel requests to minor purchases, and are approved in a single vote before aldermen move ahead with their open agenda — items not reserved for the secrecy of executive session.
Any alderman can suggest an open session item be moved to the consent agenda, but it only takes one objection to block its placement on the list.
Consent agendas were allowed in the city’s last two meetings, which featured extended discussions on how to fund Starkville Police Department renovations and a new Golden Triangle Development LINK-backed industrial park north of Highway 82.
Perkins initially allowed fellow board members to build a consent agenda Tuesday but objected to its further use after Ward 1 Ben Carver blocked the placement of purchasing two pickup trucks off state contract on the list since that information was added late at the table and unavailable in aldermen’s weekend packets.
Carver questioned Perkins’ willingness to nix the consent agenda after allowing items on it, saying the mayor pro tempore routinely objects to adding late business at the table.
The two trucks, valued at $47,578, are needed after aldermen declared four landscaping vehicles as surplus property in September.
Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn asked Perkins to reconsider the consent agenda since Ward 3 Alderman David Little was attempting to attend his son’s awards ceremony at Starkville High School.
Minutes into the meeting, aldermen took a short recess to hash out the problem away from the table. Perkins would go on to allow Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard to place more than half of the open agenda on consent.
Without a consent agenda, city meetings this year have lasted on average about three hours. Although a majority of Tuesday’s business was placed on the list, aldermen said they still didn’t leave City Hall until about 9 p.m.
Little, Wynn and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn expressed frustration in March about how long meetings last.
Little also previously said Perkins’ policy is ineffective since the minor items that should be dealt with early on are voted on without any discussion, in rapid succession later in meetings. Little and other aldermen have dubbed this portion of the agenda “the lightning round.”
“I can understand transparency, but that’s not the case since we have lightning rounds,” Little said in March. “It’s not for transparency, and I’m not sure what it’s for.”
Those concerned about the length of board meetings, Perkins said, should contact the mayor and department heads about the matter since they control the agenda.
Perkins will seek his seventh term in office next year.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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