CLARKSDALE, Miss.–Clarksdale Mayor Orlando Paden has been in office for about a month and at this week’s Board of Commissioners meeting some of actions were called into question by one commissioner.
“Recently when the pay schedule came up and the mayor took it upon himself, he just visited with the commissioners, came up with a figure, divided by four He put it in there,” said Ward 2 Commissioner Jimmy Harris. “Miraculously his pay was also on that schedule. Nobody ever voted on that”
Harris pointed out that in Clarksdale the mayor has the job of presiding over the city, but only has a vote on city matters if there is a tie among commissioners.
“I wonder sometimes what we’re doing, who’s running the ship!” said Harris. “It didn’t set well with me.”
Paden did not respond immediately.
Harris also had another complaint.
“Two or three times I’ve had things on the agenda and they’ve been taken off the agenda. Nobody said anything about it,” he said.
It was unclear what solution or resolution Harris was aiming for. But, he did caution commissioners that they have the power in the room.
