Despite a clause in contract between the Town of Jonesboro, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA), and Ruston CPA Edwards, Wade & Perry that says,
“Attend and make formal presentations before the mayor, council, and special committees as directed;”
the town’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was nowhere to be seen at last night’s meeting of the board of aldermen.
See here the document.
When asked by District B Alderman Renee Stringer why no one from Edwards, Wade & Perry was present at the meeting, the town’s controversial mayor Leslie Thompson said, “They charge too much.”
Stringer went on to say, “I would like the record to reflect that I’m requesting a monthly report of all expenditures.”
It was also revealed at the meeting that a May 19, 2011 sale of tax delinquent properties will have to be redone because proper notice was not given.
Second Judicial (Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson parishes) Assistant District Attorney and town attorney Douglas Stokes said, “There was not a proper advertisement.” He added, “What I’m going to recommend is we file a document undoing those seventeen tax sales, and then we do them correctly.”
Stringer also requested that the information packets that are given to aldermen be distributed early, rather than getting them at the meeting. The council often has to vote on ordinances and resolutions that they may have seen for the first time only minutes before.
Thompson promised that he would work to remedy the situation.
During the 5:00 PM public hearing held for the ordinance #703 budget amendment, Jonesboro businessman D. J. Allen noted that the document was confusing, as it listed both fiscal year 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.
The mayor said it was to amend the budget for the just-completed 2010-2011 year.
The amendment was passed later in the regular part of the meeting, with Stringer abstaining.
Two other issues were tabled during the meeting, nuisance abatement and town vehicle mileage policy.
Shreveport engineer Brad Graff reported on the ongoing projects of the town’s, the Stinson Street sewer project and the airport.
At the end of the meeting, District A’s Sam Lamkin read from a statement regarding his vote for the town budget at the 6/30/11 meeting. Apparently, some constituents had questioned the budget increase allocated to the Jackson Parish Coroner’s office, for which Lamkin serves as a deputy.
See here the statement.
Lincoln Parish News Online 
07/13/2011 at 10:20 am |
Geez….that Stringer lady just does not go along with the others. What is up with that?
Also, what did the councilman want in the hallway with Mr. Allen?
Did anyone hear or see them conversating?
07/13/2011 at 8:50 pm |
What is up with that? You people are so funny…it’s like a theatrical comedy.
If I were her I wouldn’t go along either. She probably figures like most of us do that these guys are all going to end up in prison or at the minimum convicted of a crime and she doesn’t want to join them.
07/13/2011 at 10:22 am |
Amazingly enough, Mr. Allen was called outside by a Council Member and told he had no right to come to the meetings and ask any questions. What part of PUBLIC does not register with that Council member? The anger and demanding attitude of that particular member is atrocious. That same Council member spoke in regard to the Tax sale and asserted that the Sale had taken place, but finally Stokes spoke up and clarified that it was not handled correctly as indicated above and the other issue was that they were not Notarized correctly. What part of following the law and proper procedure does not compute in the mind of those that are determined to do things according to their own mandate rather than the guidelines of proper Municipal Government? I read this blog and wanted to see for myself what actually transpired at the meetings, I have seen the term Totalitarianism used here and it presented itself in that meeting like never before! I sat in the audience and observed things that I have never seen before, my first time at a Council meeting, but definitely not my last. I have to comment on the CFO not being present, did she not come of her own volition, or was it because too many hard questions were asked of her before and the answers were too HONEST? The comment that the Legislative Audit Team was coming to Jonesboro, will someone go to assure the truth is told there or will there be more cake and ice cream and glad handing and a gracious pat on the back for the Totalitarian and his underlings? I wait with anticipation of the next meeting and will have my video camera with me because my associates will not believe what I am about to share with them in our meeting.
07/13/2011 at 10:38 am |
What is the council member’s name that asked Mr. Allen outside?
07/14/2011 at 8:31 am |
Either Mr. Cottonham or Mr. Flowers….it was not Sam, Renee and Charla.
07/14/2011 at 9:08 am |
I am guessing it is the Cottonham man…just based on how he behaves
07/14/2011 at 10:58 am |
He sure agrees with Leslie everytime…wonder if Leslie made him talk to Mr. Allen since Mr. Horton did not remove him last time.
07/15/2011 at 11:06 am |
Mr. Flowers is the gentleman who aske Mr. Allen to conversate in the foyer aka hallway.
07/15/2011 at 12:20 pm |
Charla is the only new member who conducts herself with some dignty, intelligence and education. With more experience maybe she will become a voice of reason that the mayor has to reackon with.
07/16/2011 at 3:51 am |
People Lets be real,it was miss Renee stringer talk to d j,in the out,I think it was a Pastor. There,Talking to him
07/13/2011 at 11:08 pm |
Man I wish I would have gone even though it was after 7:00 before I got back to town. I dare one of those jabronis try to tell me I don’t have the right,.
07/17/2011 at 11:00 am |
Renee Stringer told DJ Allen to not come to the meetings? Hard to understand…you sure that is really the truth?
What was Mr. Flowers saying to him?
Please…somebody speak up that knows THE TRUTH
07/17/2011 at 12:21 pm |
Nope, it was not Stringer, there were witnesses to this conversate.
07/17/2011 at 4:55 pm |
If that conversate as you call it was by a so called pastor, satan and all the imps from hell should be very pleased. That anger and threatening my husband saw would be enough for me to never attend a christian church again if that is what represents Jesus. I pray for his church family if he truly is the pastor.
07/13/2011 at 10:52 am |
Sure hope Mr. Allen explained why he was there. Are the council members property owners in Jonesboro ( i.e. tax payers)? Just wondering.
07/13/2011 at 11:02 am |
I was unable to attend. Did the Rev. Dill tape the meeting last night? I hope so…it is always very interesting to watch.
Rev. Dill allowed to attend the public meetings in Jonesboro. Has he moved to Jonesboro or is he not a resident of Jonesboro?
If he just works in Jonesboro….is he a tax payer of Jonesboro?
Did the council member who told Mr. Allen to not be there also tell Mr. Rev. Dill the same thing?
Lots of Questions….need some answers please
07/13/2011 at 12:31 pm |
Campaign Finance Reporting
Any person collecting contributions or making expenditures with a view towards influencing his election to public office, even if the specific office is not known, is a candidate for purposes of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act. Reports are due annually by February 15 and a certain number of days before and after the election.
All your elected officials have your reports in order? Sure hope so..
07/13/2011 at 12:56 pm |
Sounds to me like “as directed” means as Mayor Thompson deems necessary. Maybe she will show up for the Christmas party .
07/14/2011 at 8:46 am |
Do you think the CFO has had all she can take from this circus, or do you think her lip was zipped by the esteemed one?
Michael Smith: Thanks for your blog giving us information about the meeting.
I hope Jason or Jesse Campbell can attend the next meeting. We need some fighters for truth and justice for the town of Jonesboro. Also, thanks D.J. for taking on the king.
07/14/2011 at 9:51 am |
“as directed” in the agreement means as directed by the mayor. What’s not to understand? The CFO cost money and the mayor gave everything you need to your council member.
We do not need the CFO running up the bill by sitting in the crowd just cause someone might have a question. Think about the travel time here and from Ruston. That cost money too!
Call your elected official and get a copy of what is given to them right before the meeting if you have questions.
Also, why is Ms. Stringer the only one wanting to see stuff before the meeting? All she has to do is communicate more with the Mayor. He is willing and available to tell her what she needs to know. Heck, call Rev. Dill, he is helpful, too.
She is just wasting paper when some conversating with the mayor or the other elected officials is all she really needs. She is stuck on trying to follow the law …don’t she know it is okay to bend the rules sometimes…you do not always get caught and besides, if you get caught, you can have a get out of jail card for free! Just cause she has been to the ethics training, she wants to follow the laws.
Rules are made to be broken….catch as catch can.
07/14/2011 at 11:14 am |
if ya didn’t want the CFO costing money ya wouldn’t of screwed up the books from the git go. since the mayor keeps the answers in his secret place in the office she oughta be there to answer those we want to ask. also look up conversating..do you mean conversing?
07/14/2011 at 5:21 pm |
Anonymous:
That is what is wrong today. Nobody being held accountable to follow the law to a perfect tee. You are wrong when you state LAWS are MEANT to be bent, and one does not always get caught. There may be some truth to that statement, but that wrong does not make a right. It is cheating and dishonest in God’s sight. Laws are made to live by and not be broken. Remember one of the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not bear false witness? Of course, you probably do not. Apparently, you are willing to look the other way. Shameful! Must be naive!!!!
Get a grip on what’s going on at Town Hall. Do you think all is well?
07/17/2011 at 11:16 am |
I saw Mr. Flowers and D J Allen conversating ….think there was another man standing near them too.