By Ray King
For the fourth straight month, the Jefferson County Quorum Court has failed to approve an ordinance setting out the policies and procedures for its operation for the next two years.
Because that ordinance was not approved, County Judge Gerald Robinson adjourned the meeting since the county’s legislative body could take no further action.
This was the first time however that the ordinance, drafted by County Attorney Terry Wynne has come up for a vote and it failed 7 to 5. Voting to approve the ordinance were justices of the peace Roy Agee, Dr. Conley Byrd, Danny Holcomb, Ted Harden and Patricia Royal Johnson. Voting no were justices of the peace Alfred Carroll, Melanie Johnson Dumas, Lloyd Franklin, Reginald Johnson, Brenda Bishop Gaddy, Margarite Williams and Jackson. Reginald Adams was absent Monday night.
Before the vote, Franklin and Carroll tried to make substitute motions to replace the proposed ordinance with one that had been created by some of those who voted no but Robinson rejected the efforts, frequently arguing with the two.
After the meeting, Robinson spoke about the actions of Franklin and Carroll.
Several weeks ago, Franklin sent a letter to the other members of the quorum court, to the media and to Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter and others, asking Hunter to serve as the attorney for the court. Hunter and Deputy Prosecutor Joe West attended the meeting and when Franklin asked why he was there, Hunter said he had received the letter but it was his understanding that the county had an attorney and he was not the county attorney and would not be unless something changed.
Franklin then said he had hired attorney Kimberly Dale, who represents Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., in ongoing lawsuits against Robinson, to represent him and any other members of the court who needed representation. He also told Robinson he would be proposing legislation allowing Dale to be paid from county funds to represent the quorum court and asked Robinson if he would put that legislation in May.
Robinson told Franklin that the proposed legislation would be sent to the Judicial Committee and Franklin strongly objected to that committee assignment since the committee is chaired by former Jefferson County Clerk Patricia Royal Johnson, who has been a strong supporter of Robinson.
