Clarence L. Holman has resigned from his position as combination technical inspector and interim director of Inspection and Zoning for the City of Pine Bluff, effective immediately.
Holman submitted his letter of resignation Friday morning, a copy of which was obtained by Deltaplex News. The letter was addressed to Mayor Vivian Flowers, members of the Pine Bluff City Council, and Director Mitzi Ruth.
In his resignation, Holman cited events surrounding the January 8 Special City Council Meeting as the primary reason for his decision to step down. His letter suggests growing tension between the executive and legislative branches of city government, particularly regarding authority over departmental leadership.
Holman characterized the council meeting as a “prolonged logomachy,” defined as a dispute over words, which he said ultimately undermined Mayor Flowers’ authority to appoint a department director of her choosing.
During Thursday night’s special called meeting, the Pine Bluff City Council voted to overturn the termination of Mitzi Ruth, the city’s longtime director of Inspection and Zoning. All council members were present except Councilmember Glenn Brown Jr., and those in attendance voted unanimously to reverse the termination.
Mayor Flowers spent approximately 27 minutes explaining her decision to terminate Ruth, citing ongoing discussions between the two regarding a potential retirement date. Ruth has served the City of Pine Bluff for more than 45 years and has previously indicated her intention to retire.
The council’s action effectively reinstated Ruth, further highlighting the division between the mayor’s office and the city council over personnel decisions within the department.
As of Friday, city officials have not announced whether Holman’s responsibilities will be reassigned or if an interim replacement will be named. No additional statements have been released by the mayor’s office or the city council regarding Holman’s resignation.
