Ellington

The specter of the city claims and payroll docket continues to send Jackson City Council members into a frenzy. Two votes approving claims and payroll passed Monday on a 2-1 vote with one abstention. Shortly after those votes, however, Deputy City Attorney Michele Purvis said she believed docket approval required an affirmative vote, meaning that the earlier votes failed to pass.

Allen then grudgingly decided to support the docket, but he demanded that the next time the docket comes around for a council vote, he wants City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans to take direct responsibility.

"I will vote for this today, but I have several issues (with the docket)," Allen told O'Reilly-Evans. "One of the misgivings I have is that I personally wish you would sign the claims docket, not one of your deputy city attorneys. You have more institutional knowledge than anybody in this room today … but this is the last (docket) I will vote for unless we address my misgivings."

Council members Margaret Barrett-Simon, Marshand Crisler and Allen have expressed doubts about some of the mayor's temporary workers, especially the Wood Street Lawn Crew. Members of that business have police records, and witnesses say that at least two accompanied the mayor on his ill-fated visits to the duplex on Ridgeway Street and the Upper Level on Aug. 26, 2006.

Council members say they don't have full confidence in the employees and fear a legal suit if they sign off on a contract giving them city business.

City legal, responding to a council inquiry, told Allen that the legal department cannot be held liable for decisions on the docket, writing that "responsibility lies with the council and the council alone."

Allen said he wanted O'Reilly-Evans to take direct responsibility. "I would like for Ms. Evans to sign off on it instead of city legal. I think it would be more appropriate, legally," he said.