Tuesday’s Little Rock Board of Directors meeting turned tense over a piece of parliamentary procedure that prevents city directors from discussing agenda items that have been deferred.
A few moments before the meeting adjourned, Ward 4 Director Capi Peck said she’d agreed to defer for the third time an ordinance on virtual attendance of city board meetings. The ordinance would prohibit city directors from attending board meetings virtually unless the board approved an individual case by making a resolution.
At-Large Director Antwan Phillips attempted to speak against the ordinance but was quickly informed by City Attorney Tom Carpenter that discussion about the deferred ordinance would have to wait until next week, when the board will have a special meeting, under the board’s procedures.
“If it’s deferred, there’s no discussion,” Carpenter said. He added that Phillips could ask for a vote to temporarily suspend the rules to allow for a discussion, which Phillips declined.
“As a board member, I think I should have the right to speak at a board meeting outside of this being deferred,” Phillips said.
Phillips offered to speak to the board as a citizen, but the board doesn’t recognize requests to speak from citizens after a meeting has started at 6 p.m.
“This is disrespectful to me,” Phillips said. “I’m not letting it go.”
The exchange lasted several minutes.
Approved items from Tuesday’s agenda include the purchase of a street sweeper for $140,000, a backhoe for $133,875 and $900,000 worth of tires for city vehicles. The board also approved the construction of four single-family affordable housing units for $883,000.
The board will hold a special meeting March 25 to vote on the ordinance banning virtual attendance.
