By Ray King
Eight members of the Jefferson County Quorum Court, unhappy with the procedural ordinance presented to them by County Judge Gerald Robinson, are taking matters into their own hands.
Led by Justice of the Peace Reginald Johnson, the eight Justices of the Peace, Reginald Adams, Alfred Carroll, Melanie Dumas, Brenda Gaddy, Cedric Jackson, Rick Victorino and Margaret Williams met for nearly two hours after the March Quorum Court committee meeting to discuss a proposed ordinance incorporating changes to the one that was on the committee agenda.
After the meeting, Johnson was asked why they wanted a new ordinance.
Under Arkansas law, each Quorum Court in the state is required to adopt an ordinance setting out how it will operate for two years, including dates and times for meetings, selection of committees, the order of business and preparation of legislation.
A previous ordinance identical to the one presented by the County Judge was approved for two months after these same JP’s, with the exception of Victorino, who was appointed to replace former JP Danny Holcomb, who resigned in late January, objected.
During the committee meeting, Justice Conley Byrd, who is Chairman of the Human Resources Committee introduced Robinson’s proposed ordinance to the committee, but Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter said that was not legal since there could be no committees created until a procedure’s ordinance was adopted.
Both the proposed ordinance from Robinson and the one prepared by the eight JP’s could be voted on when the Quorum Court meets Monday at 5:30 p.m. If the one proposed by the JP’s is adopted, Robinson is expected to veto it.
