Jackson’s interim public works director, who had faced recent criticism from at least one member of the Jackson City Council, was given signs of support from a majority of councilmembers Tuesday, in a vote that will see him remain on the job until the search for a permanent director comes to an end.
Robert Lee, the city engineer and interim public works director, was appointed by Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in February.
Interim mayoral appointees serve for 90 days, but according to City of Jackson Director of Human Resources Toya Martin, that national search is unlikely to be finished by the time Lee’s 90-day term ends. The solution, a confirmation vote by the Council, like one that would be given to a permanent appointee. The Council approved that vote, 4-2, during Tuesday’s meeting.
At least one of the two no-votes was procedural. Ward 6 Councilmember Aaron Banks said his vote was “nothing personal” and that the idea of confirming an interim appointee to serve beyond the 90 days outlined in statute may lead to unintended consequences, including the possibility of Lee becoming the permanent director without the need of a new Council vote, if the search does not produce a suitable candidate.
“The law is 90 days,” Banks said.
For his part, Lee repeated something he has said often: he does not want the fulltime job.
“Once a fulltime public works director is found and confirmed by the City Council, I will return to be the city engineer,” Lee said after the meeting.
Ward 7 Councilmember Virgi Lindsay also questioned why a confirmation vote was necessary, saying she could not recall ever having to vote on an interim appointment. City Attorney Catoria Martin said it was indeed a unique vote.
“What this is is a very unique situation,” Martin said, adding that in previous cases with an interim appointment there was not an ongoing national search at the time the 90-day-limit was nearing expiration.
Lindsay ultimately voted in favor of confirmation.
“I am really grateful to Mr. Lee,” Lindsay said. “I cannot think of a more thankless job.”
In addition to Banks, Ward 5 Councilmember Vernon Hartley voted no. Ward 3 Councilmember Kenneth Stokes was absent, one day after the death of his wife, former Hinds County judge and City Council member LaRita Cooper-Stokes.
Stokes had been vocal in his criticism of Lee in recent weeks and had added a vote of no confidence in him to the agenda. That agenda item was removed at Stokes’ request, according to Council President Ashby Foote. With a 4-2 margin voting in favor of extending Lee’s term, it is unlikely a no-confidence vote would have found a majority.
A number of members of the Council voiced their condolences and support for Stokes after the loss of his wife.
Stokes’ main criticisms of Lee were that important infrastructure projects in his ward remained unfinished and that some vendors remained unpaid. In a news conference last week, Lee later said that there were outstanding payment issues when he took over the department, but that the backlog had been eliminated and that all payments were up to date at that time.
Lee brought up some new concerns of his own Tuesday. After the meeting, during which Hartley brought up concerns about a number of traffic lights being out in his ward, Lee said it is a bigger problem than just ward five. The city is facing a potential period where there may be no one in the city qualified to fix traffic lights.
“In about a week and a half we will actually have no signal-techs on staff,” Lee said.
That comes after one quit last week and one resigned Monday, Lee said. The superintendent is out on medical leave, and Lee said he will be back “hopefully sooner.” The department is budgeted for three positions and the superintendent.
“We have a lot of issues,” Lee said. “Usually, the biggest complaint is sewer. Backups, overflows, things like that. That’s what we have a consent decree on. Traffic signal situation has been a bit of an acute issue that is easily fixable with manpower and with equipment. I think that one, we can get over that hump and get back focused on the bigger issue, which is really sewer.”
Lee reminded the public that while third party manager Ted Henifin has taken over the city’s water system, a number of functions, like sewer and roads and bridges, remain under the department of public works.
