Harris supporters address Arkansas-side city board

Supporters of Texarkana, Ark., Ward 2 Director Laney Harris, who was recently sent a letter of censure by the city’s board of directors for three alleged incidents, defended him during Monday’s regular meeting, saying the allegations were false.

Ward 2 residents Joe Denmon and Carlton Leighton both addressed the board during the public comments period, each admonishing the board’s sending the censure letter.

“You took something that was nothing and made something out of it. I say to the director ‘Where’s the affidavit?’ If ya’ll are going to charge him, charge him,” Leighton said to the board.

Following a called meeting last week, the board voted to send a letter of censure to Harris via registered mail and the U.S. Post Office, which outlines the alleged instances in which Harris was involved. It stated that he used his position as a director to open a city building and host a meeting without the city manager’s knowledge, had an altercation with a citizen at RailFest and that he put himself in a position for a harassment complaint.

“We ought to be ashamed of ourselves. All of you. And us,” Leighton said. “We have skeletons in our closet. All of us have done something unethical. But you take Mr. Harris and you nail him to the cross. But I tell you, we’re not going to go for it. Look at yourselves and what you have become. We expect more out of you. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.”

The city alleges Harris led an unauthorized walkthrough of the Boys and Girls Club building in April, with the director alleging that he had requested access to the building from City Manager Kenny Haskin, who then referred him to Tracie Lee, assistant director of the Public Works department. Harris said Lee arranged for a city employee to open the building that morning.

A month ago at RailFest, Harris allegedly harassed a group during the downtown event. Witness accounts of the incident vary, but Harris and a witness agree someone approached him while he was taking photos, believing his activity to be suspicious. According to Harris, a video was taken of the incident, but he has not given the Gazette a copy. A police report was not filed.

A Texarkana, Ark., woman did file a complaint against Harris May 4, alleging the director became upset after she ended an intimate relationship with him and had been “sitting in the street watching her house.” The complainant also said he wanted her to return a lawn mower she said he had given her, but that it had been stolen. She also alleged that he used profanity to refer to her in public and in the presence of her grandson. Harris filed a police report about the missing mower on May 8, but did not file charges against the woman.

Denmon also addressed the board’s Monday approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending the procedure on how directors get an item placed on the meeting agenda.

“We just feel like the things that were done towards Mr. Harris and also some of the things that were on the agenda where you have to have two councilmen to put an item on the agenda—that was for Mr. Harris,” he said. “That isn’t to shorten up city council meetings as the mayor says. That is to silence our council member, keep him from speaking out. The actions of this board was censorship and we think those things are out of bounds.”

The change to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Texarkana comes from a workshop held immediately following the special meeting calling for the censure, neither of which Harris attended. During that meeting, the board outlined the process of how they would like items put on the agenda, which requires approval by Haskin. If the director proposing the item appeals the decision, a workshop will be held within 30 days for the board to discuss the item. If at least two board members approve it, it will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting occurring within at least seven days following the workshop.

Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell stated that the new process would help meetings run much smoother.

Harris voted to approve the first reading of the ordinance.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12 p.m. July 5.