JONESTOWN — After nearly 10 months of Jonestown being without a city attorney, Clarksdale municipal judge Derek Hopson was unanimously approved by the city council to fill the position during the Monday, May 6, meeting.
The council terminated former city attorney Carlos Moore during the October 2018 meeting. Since that time, several candidates expressed interest in filling the position. Hopson was the first candidate Mayor Kenny Lester and enough council members could agree would be a good fit for the position.
Hiring Hopson as city attorney did not come without some disagreement when it came to the process.
“We have been 10 months without an attorney and now it’s time for us to get an attorney,” said Lester after recommending Hopson for the position.
Lester said he had reviewed Hopson’s resume.
“I don’t know Mr. Hopson,” Lester said. “I just saw the resume and called him. That’s all I know about him, period.”
“We won’t have a chance to question him?” replied Alderwoman Josephine Brown-Cosby.
“You can question him right now,” replied Lester.
Both Brown-Cosby and Alderman Unta Wiley said the questions for Hopson should come during executive session.
“It’s not executive session because he’s not employed by the town,” said Lester, adding there was no litigation matter involved either.
Brown-Cosby disagreed.
“When we question anybody that we are going to hire, we always go into executive session to ask questions,” she said.
As the discussion continued, Hopson offered his opinion on the matter.
“I’m comfortable either way you all decide to do it whether it is in the public frame or whether it is executive session,” he said. “I am comfortable because I believe in transparency.”
Brown-Cosby asked Hopson for direction.
“We’re trying to do it the legal way and you’re supposed to know more about it,” she said.
Hopson said Jonestown is a small town by statute with the weak mayor system, unlike Clarksdale or Vicksburg, and that means he has to answer to the board’s wishes. He used an example from The Andy Griffith Show where it was said one does not always go by what is in the book, rather by what is in the heart.
“If all of you all agree to do it behind closed doors, I’m not worried about what they say down there in Jackson,” Hopson said. “I’m in Jonestown. When we’re in Jonestown, we do what Jonestown do.
“Legally speaking, if it’s by consent and there’s no problem to these taxpayers, you all are fine. If there’s a question on the floor and you all don’t agree, then you need to fall back on your statutes.”
Alderman Gregory Neely Sr. said Lester should see if the citizens have any questions for Hopson.
“We know Mr. Hopson,” Neely said. “I know him. I know a little bit about his family. I know him and his wife.”
Lester then asked if anyone in the audience had anything to ask Hopson.
“He’s done legal work for me and my family and I’ve been very, very satisfied with it,” said Evelyn Veasley from the audience. “I just want to ask one question because this seems to be the contention here. If a situation comes up and some of the board members or the mayor don’t agree with it, what’s your assessment of that? Are we going to follow the law or are we going to please people because they are my friends or what? I just need to know that.”
Hopson said there should be an understanding before even coming to the meetings so things could run smooth.
