Belle citizens express concern, dissatisfaction with police contract discussion at city meeting

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 12/18/19

BELLE— Nearly 70 Belle citizens attended the Dec. 10 city meeting to support the marshal and decry the board’s scheduled vote to outsource Belle’s police services to Maries …

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Belle citizens express concern, dissatisfaction with police contract discussion at city meeting

Posted

BELLE— Nearly 70 Belle citizens attended the Dec. 10 city meeting to support the marshal and decry the board’s scheduled vote to outsource Belle’s police services to Maries County.

Many citizens who attended the Belle-Bland Community Center town hall meeting Dec. 4 asked the board to slow down their decision-making process and explain to the citizens why outsourcing the police is necessary or to explore every other avenue.

Several of those citizens attended the regular meeting Dec. 10 and spoke again, despite the board and Mayor Josh Seaver’s efforts to reserve the agenda time for the board to discuss the contract. Seaver said the previous meeting was meant to give the citizens their chance to address the board and the Dec. 10 meeting was meant to give the board a chance to openly discuss their decision-making process.

Daryl White Sr., a local businessman for the past 52 years, was the only person to sign up on the agenda to address the board. He said to prove he has enough character to address the board, he has also served on the school board, and has been involved in numerous community events.

“The only way I could get on the agenda is if I was willing to stay away from talking about the marshal’s position being moved to Maries County --- is that right? --- So strike that, ‘cause I ain’t supposed to say that.”

White, like many of those in attendance, felt that he was being silenced by the board by not being allowed to speak. He told the board that “when the people come to a meeting and can’t address the board — and even though they had the other meeting, that was last Wednesday,  and the newspaper wouldn’t report on it until the following Wednesday.”

“So there wasn’t no reason for us going to that meeting last week. It was a myth,” White said. “When you get to the point that you can’t do the job, either turn in your resignation or get on board. I am not here trying to slam the council, what I am trying to do is bring this community together.”

He previously asked the board to slow down on their decision until the people can be informed, and repeated his request.

“We deserve to have the time it takes to make this decision,” White said. “This is not an easy decision.”

Rehna Britton addressed the board saying she was also not there to talk about the marshal, because like White, she already knows the board will do what they want to do without a vote by the people.

“What I am here to talk to you about is the budget,” Britton said. “I was informed that the police department is over budget. Is there any other department in Belle that is over budget?”

Alderman Tony Gieck said there are, mentioning the streets department, Belle-Bland Community Center, and general fund — where all the line items are taken from. Britton asked if the city was going to outsource all of those departments and Gieck said no. She asked why the town was not been notified of the debt? Gieck began to answer and she interrupted.

“No, let me ask the questions and then you can answer,” Britton said. “Why have you not solved the issues as the board? I am going to tell you what it looks like. Your vengefulness is taking place to get rid of the marshal. You all have put before us, the citizens of Belle, to have a marshal appointed by your department. Can you tell me that even one time you had that pass? I will answer that. No, you have not. Because we the people want to elect our officials. We do not want to be told by dictators (she pointed to the mayor and four aldermen) what we can and cannot do in our own town.”

The audience applauded. Gieck tried to get Britton’s attention.

“I want to answer your questions,” he said, asking her to repeat them. “By the end of the year, the budget will be in the black. For the past three years, the marshal’s budget has not been in the black. We talk about this every month.”

Britton demanded to know why the information was not in the newspaper. (The Maries County Advocate reports monthly on the budget situation discussed at the city meetings).

“At the end of every year, there is an outlook to show what happens at the end of every year,” Gieck said. “Technically the auditor wants us to balance out at zero at the end of every year. Last year, I sat right in front of this council and said ‘I will not vote to take money out of general fund to balance out the marshal. Put it in the paper that he is in the hole.”

Britton asked if they did that with all the other departments that were in the hole? Michelle Jones, city treasurer, said they do.

“What gives you the right to take it upon yourselves to decide that the people don’t get to vote on whether you get rid of the marshal’s department, what gives you the right to do what we the people don’t want you to do?” Britton asked.

She said she could vote them out at the next election. Gieck agreed with Britton that it is the American way to vote out representatives they don’t agree with.

“Why can’t you wait, get our approval, convince us that you need this?” Britton asked.

Gieck told the crowd that not every decision needs to go to a vote to the people, and the crowd began to speak at once.

“I would think our elected officials are by the people, for the people,” Britton shouted above the noise.

The mayor asked Britton to take her seat, “you’ve had your chance.”

Gieck asked that Britton stand to be addressed a moment longer.

“First of all, every lawmaker that we elect goes to wherever, and they make laws. Do you get to vote on everything that they pass down?” Gieck asked. “Representatives that you send to wherever -- the majority here tonight is for Joe -- We are not trying to get rid of the marshal himself. He is still going to be your marshal.”

Several residents who signed up to speak later declined. Some said they signed up to speak by mistake, others said they would pass because the board would not let them speak.

Debbie Baumgartner-Gray asked the mayor if she could speak because she was unable to meet with Seaver prior to the city meeting or get on the agenda.

“My issue is that I tried to follow the law in order to get on the agenda,” she said. “Your response to me was ‘plain and simple, we will not spend four or five more hours, or anymore time on this.’ I asked to get on the agenda and I did not receive any response other than it was done.”

Seaver said he didn’t see her request to be on the agenda, and apologized.

“To go through protocol and not be able to get on the agenda offends me personally because that is a right,” Baumgartner-Gray said. “If you allow our citizens and our board another four to five hours it may be the most important hours that you ever put in. But that was denied with an answer of ‘plain and simple, it is done.’”

She said she wanted to be on the agenda because it is the American way.

Jane Nie asked the board if she could clarify, “It was my understanding that the last meeting was for public discussion and that this meeting would not have public discussion, is that right?”

Seaver said yes.

“Apparently some didn’t understand that,” Nie said.

Baumgartner-Gray tried to speak again and Seaver said they were going to move on. During department head reports, Turnbough asked if he would still have to attend the city meetings if they chose to have Maries County police the town. Jacque Moreland, a local resident, answered that the people elected him to do his job which included attending the meetings. So yes, he should still be attending.

Aldermen tabled the contract with a 4-0 vote and will revisit contracting the police department to Maries County at the Jan. 14 meeting.