Residents urge removal of A&P commission member after June meeting; board schedules executive session
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Summary
Residents accused an A&P Commission member of improperly removing a volunteer and cancelling a contract; speakers urged the member to resign and the board agreed to place the matter in executive session at the next meeting to consider possible action.
Several residents told the Texarkana Board of Directors they want a member of the city’s A&P (advertising and promotion) Commission removed after an incident at the commission’s June 26 meeting.
Mark Luckett told the board he “implore[d] of director Ward Thoreau to step down and resign his position on the A and P Commission” after a video showing the June 26 meeting was posted online. George Dawson said the video shows the director “remove somebody on his own accord with 1 vote” and alleged the director also cancelled a contract and lied about supporting a nominee, saying, “He lied to my face.”
Both speakers asked the Board of Directors to act. Board members clarified that the A&P Commission does not have authority to remove its own members and that only the board can remove an appointed commissioner. Several residents and board members said the volunteer Meredith Mills had not received an apology or explanation.
In board commentary, a member serving as the A&P chair urged the board to address “the elephant in the room” and requested an executive session at the next meeting so the board can discuss removal and appointments in private. The city attorney said he would include an executive session on the next board agenda.
Next steps: the board confirmed an executive session on the next meeting agenda to consider the matter in closed session; no formal removal or disciplinary vote occurred at this meeting.
