The Coahoma County Board of Supervisors terminated County Administrator Morgan Wood Monday on a 3-2 vote along racial lines.
Wood had been County Administrator for three years and is only the third County Administrator for Coahoma County over the past 20 years. Wood was named to the county’s top administrative post upon retirement of Daniel Vassel and had served at the assistant county administrator. Wood had been hired by the previous County Administrator Hugh Jack Stubbs.
The motion to terminate Wood was made by Dist. 3 Supervisor Derrell Washington and seconded by Dist. 5 Supervisor Roosevelt Lee with Board President and Dist.4 Supervisor Johnny Newson supporting. Dist. 1 Supervisor Paul Pearson and Dist. 2 Supervisor Pat Davis voted against.
Wood spoke briefly Tuesday morning saying she was surprised by the vote and she had never been formally reprimanded or told she needed to improve in writing.
Wood said her termination was not on the regular agenda. Board President Newson said it was handled in executive session.
“We basically we just took the county in a different direction and moved it forward,” said Newson. When asked, Newson said that direction will be “whatever the board decides and there are no concluded specifics yet.”
State law requires the county to have a County Administrator under Coahoma County’s unit system of government.
Newson said no one has been named or appointed at this time and the board would discuss that process or name an administrator or an assistant administrator at their Wednesday, May 12 meeting.
Newson said Monday’s decision was not related to a sexual harassment complaint or a personnel issue involving a county road department employee who presented himself to a city resident alleging to be a county building inspector. As County Administrator, Wood is called on to investigate and report to the board on personnel issues.
The Coahoma County employee was working at the Coahoma County Youth Outreach during an immunization drive when he allegedly touched a woman and was suspended with pay, the board later reversed that decision and allowed him back at work under supervision. The road department employee was suspended for three days and the board reversed that decision and paid him for some of those days. The county has never had a building inspector.
The Coahoma County Administrator has a budgeted salary of $90,000 and state law requires them to hold a bachelor’s degree and have knowledge of work projection, budget planning, accounting, purchasing, cost control, personnel management and road construction procedures.
The County Administrator is also required to attend a continuing education courses hosted by the State Auditor each year to stay knowledgeable about their duties and responsibilities and be updated on state auditing law.
The board opened their meeting at 3 p.m. Monday, tending to regular business with the Coahoma County Courthouse closing to the public at 5 p.m. The board continued their meeting, sequestered in the board room, including the executive session, until after 8 p.m., when they adjourned.
In other business:
The Board of Supervisors was approached by former Carnegie Public Library librarian Floyd Cousin seeking to inform the board about recent events at the library that led to his resignation.
Reading from a prepared statement Council said he was concerned about the library and the community.
“Racial division is an infection that is killing many Delta towns and counties and it is hindering economic development and the ability for Clarksdale to attract and retain progressive talent in our business community, education system and at our library,” said Council. “My dream of serving in the Delta is motivated by the look in the eyes of poor boys and girls who may be black or white.
“With failing schools and a slow moving economy, our public library has to be a 21st Century community place where children and adults can dream, explore and adventure toward a better life,” Council added. “To this end, the library system needs trustees who can look beyond their personal agendas and see the needs of the community.”
Council outlined four concerns:
1. Racial division, abuse of authority and the lack of equity, diversity and inclusion on the library Board of Trustees.
2. Citizen access to county/city (library) public records per policy
3. Citizen access to open meetings (Library Board Meetings), per state law.
4. The governing ability of the current library board chairperson to limit liability for the County/City and contribute to the retention of a highly qualified Library Director, which will help secure the future of the Clarksdale & Coahoma County Library System.
Council also gave his recommendations for addressing these concerns and presented them in writing to the board.
Board members thanked Council for his concerns with Newson saying he was made aware of these concerns when they were printed in the Clarksdale Press Register two weeks ago.
After less than three months in his position, Council announced his resignation as executive director of the Carnegie Public Library of Clarksdale and Coahoma County April 19.
A career librarian with an impressive resume that includes St. Louis, Chicago, Nashville and Dallas, the resignation came as a shock but not a surprise for a community that saw JoAnn Blue resign abruptly after seven years with the library in September.
Council said in April he believes board chair Shelia Winters is the problem.
“I would consider coming back (as executive director) only if she is leaving,” Council said in April.
Council said some issues may prompt litigation, he would not comment on what they might be.
“What I can tell you is for many years the library system has been under a strong hold for board leadership,” Council said. “What I want to say is there are some members of the board who are very active or very passionate, at least one is intent upon destroying the library system. More than 30 days ago, I filed a grievance against Shelia Winters on behalf of myself and my staff. Still no answer. For more than 30 days, I have not even had a meeting with Shelia Winters.”
Council said the complaints will continue.
“I wanted to be perfectly clear,” Council said. “I am planning to file a state ethics complaint against Ms. Winters and the library board and I’m planning to file an EEOC case on discrimination based on hostile work environment and other areas.”
Council said Winters attempted to control things to the point where she did not allow him to talk to any other board member for 45 days.
Not every board member was a problem Council added.
“There are some very good trustees on this board, but they are not getting any support from county supervisors to get unqualified trustees off this board,” Council said.
Winters has been accused of asking for the removal of the balance sheet from public financial statements. The library board has also been accused of not adhering to Mississippi Open Meeting laws and a complaint was submitted and upheld by the Mississippi Ethics Commission.
CITY AND COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTEES
At Large (Mayor Chuck Espy) – Jacqueline Tyler.
Ward 1 (Bo Plunk) – Jennifer Joyner.
Ward 2 (Ken Murphey) – Chris Cole.
Ward 3 (Willie Turner) – Joyce Hill.
Ward 4 (Ed Seals) – Rita Hanfor.
The City of Clarksdale levies a tax for the Library that raises approximately $238,000.
Dist. 1 Supervisor (Paul Pearson) - Nancy Foley.
Dist. 2 Supervisor (Pat Davis) - Lesley Johnson.
Dist. 3 Supervisor (Derrell Washington) LaFiesta Roland.
Dist. 4 Supervisor (Johnny Newson) - Shelia Winters.
Dist. 5 Supervisor (Roosevelt Lee) - Kristen Graves.
Coahoma County levies a 2 mill tax for the Library that raises approximately $360,000.
