A&P chairman resigns from commission
Arkansas-side group has been mired in controversy for weeks now
Chairman Buddy Allen resigned from the Texarkana, Ark., Advertising and Promotion Commission on Wednesday after weeks of controversy regarding how it conducts business.
Allen submitted a letter of resignation to city Finance Director TyRhonda Henderson by email Wednesday afternoon, effective after a special meeting the commission held later that day.
The commission has become dysfunctional enough that Allen’s continued effectiveness as a member is impossible, he stated in the letter.
“It is my opinion that over the last few months we, as a Commission, have morphed into a fragmented team that is forced to take necessary actions that are emotionally charged and externally influenced. This business model will not allow me to perform a service to the citizens of Texarkana, Ark., consistent with my personal standards. The conduct of A&PC business is taking more of my personal time than I had anticipated and is occupying an inordinate amount of my internal thought process. Further, I am convinced that any productive efforts on my part, to improve the conduct of business by the Commission, will exacerbate the current situation. Therefore, I am resigning my position,” the letter states.
Allen went on to thank the mayor and city Board of Directors for his appointment to the commission and wished it “maximum success” in the future. He did not respond to a phone message seeking further comment Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate that it came to that. I applaud Mr. Allen for his distinguished service to the committee for the past years that he’s served. It’s certainly been through some trying times under his leadership, and the commission has had a lot to deal with during that time. I’m thankful for the time I did get to serve with him and appreciate his leadership as our chair,” A&P Commissioner Sandy Varner said.
Other commissioners either could not be reached or did not respond to requests for comment. City Manager Kenny Haskin declined to comment except to thank Allen for his service.
Allen served on the commission since May 2015, when he was appointed the panel’s at-large member. He became chairman in January, taking over for Commissioner Claude Moore.
Allen has been at the center of a controversy that arose after a
Sept. 11 meeting during which the commission refused to vote on whether Gathering of Authors, a local literary and charity event, could be given A&P funds in addition to those it was awarded in October 2016.
During that meeting, commission Allen brought up the commission’s bylaws, which state that the commission can allow a vote for funding beyond the October meeting only if “all members vote to approve funding.”
According to the meeting’s minutes, “Commissioner (Joyce) Dennington asked Mr. Potter if this could be a unanimous vote by all members present or all members of the commission. Mr. Potter confirmed it is to be unanimous by all members of the commission. Because all commissioners were not present, funding could not be voted on at this time.”
Gathering of Authors organizers Tammy Thompson and Amanda Bowers responded with two written complaints, the first delivered to the Arkansas Attorney General and the second to local officials including City Manager Kenny Haskin. They alleged that other recipients had been funded under a different interpretation of the bylaws, citing examples dating back to July 2016 in which the commission awarded funds without a unanimous vote of the full commission.
Later at the request of Henderson, Bowers sent her a list of the steps she believes “the A&P should take to restore taxpayer confidence and the integrity of the A&P Commission.”
Bowers called for “equitable treatment” for all applicants for A&P funding; suspension of the commission’s bylaws “until they can be revised to accurately reflect both state statutes and city ordinances”; a new chance to request additional 2017 funding for Gathering of Authors; and removal of Allen, alleging he has engaged in “defiant behavior and authoritarian approach to public service.”
The commission discussed Bowers’ email at its Oct. 19 meeting but did not take any action about it. During the sometimes heated conversation, Commissioner Joyce Dennington repeatedly raised the possibility of having to defend the panel against a lawsuit.
Also during that meeting, the commission heard but voted against Gathering of Authors’ additional funding request it refused to consider in September. The commission did approve the event’s separate funding request for 2018, awarding it $9,000. Afterward, Bowers said the outcome was unsatisfactory and threatened to sue.
On Tuesday, Bowers sent Haskin a new complaint based on a recent Freedom of Information Act request she made for commission documents. Among other allegations, the complaint accuses Allen of illegally conducting a discussion with other commissioners via email rather than in public as required by state law.
Bowers reacted to Allen’s resignation with continued criticism.
“Buddy Allen’s resignation is a positive first step for the A&P to begin rectifying their long list of egregious mistakes. It’s unfortunate, however, that others on the commission have maintained a position of malice and malcontent towards the taxpayers they serve. Commissioner Varner has publicly accused Ms. Thompson and myself of extortion for bringing these indiscretions to light. Varner’s actions are disgraceful and she should consider resigning herself,” Bowers stated in an email.
Varner responded that she never insulted Bowers or Thompson but did take exception to their threatening the commission in order to get what they want.
“If you’re trying to exact behavior from someone and influence them in a certain way and threaten them with something one way or another, that is by very definition extortion. That’s what I said. I did not say that Amanda Bowers is an extortionist. I did not say Tammy Thompson is an extortionist. I never said that,” Varner said.
Allen has lived in Texarkana, Ark., since 1994, according to a previous Gazette report. He worked in the paper industry for 45 years and managed two paper manufacturing facilities, including Domtar in Ashdown, Ark.
Allen has served on many boards in Texarkana, as interim president/CEO of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of the Arkansas Alternative Energy Commission and Arkansas Forestry and Paper Council. He serves on the A&M-Texarkana Foundation Board of Directors and is former chairman of the A&M-Texarkana Eagle Club.
The commission distributes revenues from the city’s 3 percent hotel and 2 percent restaurant taxes to support the city’s tourism and hospitality industries.
On Twitter: @RealKarlRichter