Council cancels Nov. 4 meeting, approves holiday hours; residents urge action on litter and policing

The Pulaski Town Council voted on Oct. 21 to cancel its Nov. 4 meeting because that date falls on election day and approved adjusted holiday hours for staff, council members said.

Councilmember moved to cancel the Nov. 4 meeting and the motion passed on a roll call showing 'Aye' votes from the named councilors. Later the council approved a manager-recommended holiday-hours adjustment that would provide four additional hours for staff over Thanksgiving and four additional hours on Dec. 24; departments required to work on those days will receive compensatory time.

Two public commenters then used the council’s public-comment period to press for more aggressive cleanup and public-safety enforcement. Mark LeBlanc, a 30-year resident, asked the council to improve downtown appearances — recommending larger trash receptacles near the courthouse, attention to damaged brick and stonework and using jail trustees for cleanup tasks — and said the town should "let the people think that this is a town that cares about the little things."

Former officer Marty Dowdy recounted safety incidents near his home, said the town is "operating with 3 policemen on a shift," and urged the council to invest in enforcement and youth-prevention programs. "We need more life altering programs," he said, and urged the council to explore funding and staffing options.

Why it matters: Both comments highlight community concerns that intersect with public-works budgets, code enforcement and police staffing. Council members and the town manager encouraged residents to report problems to staff so they can be addressed and thanked volunteers who perform downtown cleanup.

What’s next: The council set its next regular meeting for Nov. 18, 2025, and managers said they will follow up on specific properties and public-works tasks raised during public comment.