Landlords came prepared to give their side of the story at last night’s Pine Bluff City Council meeting. Council members considered a final vote to establish minimum rental housing standards and it was clear from the jump, that Ward Four representative Williams Fells was the target. Quorum Court member Reginald Johnson spoke directly to Fells, saying that more work on his ordinance needed to be done to help landlords like himself
Also speaking prior to the meeting was Ivan Whitfield
Before the ordinance was voted on, Fells took the time to defend it, saying that state law already is on the side of landlords when it comes to how tenants must abide by rental agreements
A motion was made by Glen Brown, Jr and seconded by Lloyd Holcomb and the vote was 5-3 to table the ordinance and send it back to committee, allowing more time for both sides to have more input. Voting for tabling the ordinance was Brown, Holcomb, Yvonne Denton, Bruce Lockett and Latisha Brunson, with Steven Mays, Fells and Lynette Frazier.
