Council chief keeps post
Acting Gary Common Council President William Godwin will retain that title for 2021 year after council members approved 7-1 his election.
Godwin, D-1st, has served as acting council president since February aft er Council President Michael Brown was seriously injured in a car accident. Brown has been recovering and has yet to return to the dais. Godwin received the only nomination for the position. Councilman Dwight Williams, D-6th, abstained from the vote to close nominations and the vote to elect the president.
Councilman Clorius Lay, D-At large, chided council members for closing the nominations before calling for any other nominations from the panel.
“I understand the decision has been made but let’s pretend it hasn’t been made,” Lay said, adding he planned to vote for Godwin, but procedure should be followed.
Godwin thanked his fellow council members for electing him to the spot after spending his first year on the council as president.
“Thank you to my colleagues who have supported me. I look forward to a productive year,” Godwin said.
Councilwoman Tai Adkins, D-4th, was elected vice president by a 7-1 vote. Adkins also was unopposed. Lay abstained from the vote.
“I just want to thank each one of my colleagues for entrusting leadership in me. And to the citizens I look forward to continuing my leadership role and being a support to you as well,” Adkins said.
Some council members used their time to call for a more respectful forum when issues arise.
Council men Cozy Weatherspoon, D-2nd, and Williams said they would like the council president to refrain from subjective comments about how fellow council members vote when they disagree with him. The issue arose from the Dec. 15 council meeting where Weather spoon, Williams and Lay voted against overriding Mayor Jerome Prince’s veto of the amended 2021 budget that included a 3% pay increase for police officers. Godwin, after the vote, was critical of council members who did not override the veto.
Weatherspoon said if a council member makes a vote regardless whether the council president agrees or disagrees with it, that council member should not be lambasted or criticized by the council president.
The men said spirited discussion is expected, but the subjective comments are unwarranted.
“I’m hoping we can move forward this year,” Williams said.
Lay agreed with the pair and admitted he was probably guilty of the same offense.
“It is a good rule not to criticize each other during the council meeting. May I emphasize during the council meeting. I will not relinquish the criticism of the council outside the meeting,” Lay said.
Godwin said his comments were not personal.