By Ray King
Any possibility of working together to consider legislation to benefit Jefferson County was wrecked from the get-go Tuesday as committees of the Jefferson County Quorum Court were scheduled to consider a 19-item agenda prepared by County Judge Gerald Robinson’s office.
As Justice of the Peace Danny Holcomb, chairman of the Human Resources Committee was prepared to discuss the first of 11 items on that committees agenda, Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin informed him that, on the advice of their attorney, he and seven other JP’s would not participate in the committee vote because they had an agenda that was different and one they prepared.
Franklin also warned Holcomb, and later Finance Committee Chairman Ted Harden that they would abstain on every vote which would prevent any legislation from being considered for final action next week.
Harden abruptly adjourned the committee meeting because of a continuing argument with Franklin, and after the meeting talked about what happened.
After Harden, Holcomb, Justices of the Peace Roy Agee and Conley Byrd walked out, Franklin and the other members of the Quorum Court held what Robinson described as an illegal finance committee meeting whose results he would not recognize.
Robinson also explained what action his attorney advised him to take.
Robinson has filed a lawsuit against Franklin and Justices Alfred Carroll, Reginald Adams, Cedric Jackson, Melanie Dumas, Reginald Johnson, Brenda Bishop Gaddy and Margarette Williams because of their actions.
