WEST POINT — West Point Mayor Scott Ross says the Board of Selectmen”s decision to fire interim Electric Department Superintendent Shasta Plunkett Wednesday evening was illegal.
The board met without Ross in a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. during which it voted 3-1 to fire Plunkett. Ward 1 Selectman Rod Bobo cast the lone dissenting vote. Ward 4 Selectman Keith McBrayer was acting as mayor in Ross” absence and did not vote.
Ross says he was unable to attend because he did not receive notice prior to a 4:45 p.m. e-mail from City Clerk Lela Jack. Mississippi code mandates the mayor receive three hours notice of a special meeting.
Public notice for the meeting, which also must be posted three hours prior, was posted on West Point”s Web site by 2:10 p.m., according to Jack.
“I think the meeting was illegal. There”s no question I didn”t (receive timely notice) and as a result I didn”t attend,” said Ross. “But just in case I”m wrong, I”m going to veto it anyway.”
In a written statement released this morning, Ross claims no urgent business existed to necessitate a special meeting, especially since the board met the previous night and plans to meet again this month.
“To my knowledge, such a meeting has never been attempted in West Point, and should only be under extraordinary circumstances,” reads Ross” statement.
He goes on to accuse several selectmen of overstepping their boundaries.
“Since taking office in July, the board majority of Selectmen Pittman, Cannon and Collins have repeatedly failed to recognize and accept the statutory duties (and limitations) of their office and consistently ignored the City”s personnel policy. State law specifically prohibits board members from attempting to exercise executive authority which is reserved to the Mayor and delegated to the Chief Administrative Officer. Their conduct has, directly or indirectly, resulted in six (6) EEOC complaints against the City of West Point – so far. No doubt there will be more to follow at enormous and unnecessary legal expense. Simply having a majority on the board is not a license to circumvent the law.”
If the meeting is determined to be illegal, any decisions made during the meeting are void. If the meeting stands and Ross vetoes the board”s decision, the board must have at least four votes to override the veto.
City Administrator Randy Jones heard rumors of the meeting early Wednesday afternoon and called Ross to verify, but Ross denied any meeting was taking place. Jones received a call shortly before the meeting began asking if he planned to attend.
Plunkett, who has an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint of race discrimination pending against the board, received a call at 7:15 p.m. from Jones, who also serves as general manager of the Water and Light Department, informing him of his termination.
“I asked for a reason and (Jones) said there was no reason given,” said Plunkett. “I have an idea of the reason, but I”m not going to mention it until I talk to my lawyer.”
Plunkett and four other West Point employees are being represented by Tupelo attorney Jim Waide in EEOC complaints against the city board.
Ward 2 Selectman Homer Cannon and Ward 3 Selectman Charles Collins called the special meeting Wednesday. Collins moved to terminate Plunkett in executive session and Cannon seconded the motion. Ward 5 Selectman Jasper Pittman cast the third vote for Plunkett”s termination.
Pittman was the only board member reachable by phone this morning. He wouldn”t comment on the reason for Plunkett”s termination; the facts would come out eventually, he said.
“I was just told the electric department needed to go in a different direction. We”re still going through this EEOC stuff, but everything is going to come out in time,” said Pittman. “With the allegations (Plunkett) accused me of, I can prove him wrong on that. But as far as his termination, the city attorney (Orlando Richmond) told us to hold off on making any statements.”
In his EEOC complaint, Plunkett accused Pittman of refusing to pay his electric bill on multiple occasions.
Richmond said city employees are employed “at the will and pleasure of the board,” which is common throughout Mississippi, and are not owed an explanation of termination or an opportunity to speak on their own behalf.
Plunkett was voted in as interim head of the electric department in February. An advertisement for a permanent electric superintendent remains on West Point”s Web site, but Jones hasn”t received any resumes other than Plunkett”s.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.