Morrison to hold two positions for city

GARFIELD — During a Aug. 9 presentation to the City Council by Planning Commission chairwoman Gayla Schuster, commission member Zannie Morrison said he’s been checking on legality of a couple of signs in the city.

Last month Morrison, who had been the city code enforcement officer, was sworn in on the Planning Commission, but when it was stated he could not be in two roles for the city, he resigned the code enforcement position on July 28. At the time, it was reported his resignation was to have been presented to the City Council Tuesday, Aug. 9. That item was not on the agenda.

When Morrison finished talking about the signs, alderwoman Cathy asked he was speaking as the code enforcement office or a planning commissioner member. She noted that she’s spoken to the Arkansas Municipal League and learned it’s a conflict of interest to serve on the commission and server as a employee.

“The only legal way is for the council to approve an ordinance to approve the conflict,” Shook said.

Morrison said his understanding is that he cannot have both jobs at the same time.

“I’ll address the issue,” Mayor Gary Blackburn said. “Right after I got your (Shook’s) email, I sent (David C. Schoen, an attorney at the Municipal League) a copy of Ordinance 154 … Today he got back to me. I tried to print the email, but couldn’t get it to print.

“It is now his opinion that it is OK. He did recommend that we want to stay on the good side of auditor, to review it to include names. But as of now, it is OK,” Blackburn said.

Shook asked if the mayor could have forwarded it to her, because she had been the one to bring it up.

“You can look at it,” Blackburn said. “I didn’t stop to think about emailing just you since you’re the only one.”

When Shook pointed out Morrison has stepped down from the code enforcement position, Blackburn replied: “He rescinded that. Today.”

Blackburn did not explain why, moments earlier, Morrison said his understanding was that he could only hold one position.

“So nobody knew that until just now?” Shook asked.

“That’s right,” Blackburn said.

Alderman Dale Watkins recalled that it came up at a meeting years ago, when the city hired children of officials, which he suspects is why Ordinance 154 was written.

“We’ve got it covered,” Blackburn said, “and your question was legitimate.”