Linden Mayor reprimands Town Clerk for tardiness
Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland
Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland

LINDEN Mayor Carwyn Holland has accused Town Clerk Jenella Bowen of being apathetic in informing him and the councillors, in a timely manner, of correspondences concerning the council that she is in receipt of.At the first statutory meeting of the new council, held on Wednesday, the mayor reprimanded the Town Clerk on her alleged tardiness, and the two became embroiled in a heated exchange of words, as the Town Clerk defended herself against the allegation.

Describing the town clerk’s behaviour as disrespectful to the council, the mayor made it clear that he would not be accepting the lackadaisical and mediocre behaviour being displayed by the town clerk, whom he sanctioned by way of written correspondence. He described her attitude as impertinent, and said it stymied the work of the council, which at the earliest opportunity should be made aware of matters of which it should be concerned.

The mayor also instructed the town clerk to bring to his attention matters concerning the council, so that he would be more knowledgeable of what is taking place in the council.

In her defence, the town clerk said that as administrative head of the council, she is tasked with sharing with the councillors, at committee and statutory meetings, correspondences filtered to her. She claimed that the mayor’s allegations against her are based on his mixing up her roles and responsibilities with his.

“It is clear that there is some mix-up or cross-over between the responsibilities of the policy maker, who is the head citizen of this town, and administration….I believe there is a mix up,” she posited. She based her defence on sections of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.

The mayor rubbished the town clerk’s response, saying that, at the earliest opportunity, the Mayor’s Office should be made aware of matters concerning the council, and he also referred to the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.

“There is so much going on in this council that we need to be made aware…if they are matters of this council, they need to be brought to the fore…. “I will not tolerate mediocre or lackadaisical behaviour within our municipality; be reminded that all matters within the purview of the councillors must be referred to the councillors, therefore it is improper for you to be in receipt of pertinent information of the council without relaying same,” affirmed the mayor, as he read the correspondence he had penned to the town clerk on the issue.

He also accused the town clerk of failing to meet with him when he requested her presence at a particular meeting; not getting her attention to discuss important issues; and not furnishing the council with documents such as minutes of meetings in a timely manner.

“I’m saying if this is the way this council is being run — we have no knowledge…it has to stop,” the mayor affirmed.

Councillor Lenox Gasper, Chairman of the Administration and Legal Affairs Committee of the Linden Town Council, commenting on the issue, quoted Chapter 28:01 and said the council, like the mayor, should also reprimand the town clerk on matters of negligence.

He, however, urged the two officials to respect each other’s office, so that the council can move forward.

“We have to be able to keep the wheel turning in this council, and as councillors…admin, we have to (be able) to work together cohesively. And if the admin is the (grease) that keeps the wheel turning and the councillors (are) the driving force that gets the municipality to places it needs to go, then we have to at least respect each other’s office; we may not respect the person, but we have to respect their office,” Councillor Gasper stressed.

Councillor Rawl Friday eventually moved a motion that all pertinent correspondences be forwarded to the mayor on a daily basis. That motion was embraced by all councillors, except Councillor Lennox Gasper.

 

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