CLAYTON — ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County’s top boss and the council chair clashed this week over a proposal that would give the seven-member council the power to fire department heads.
County Executive Sam Page said in Tuesday’s council meeting that he believes Proposition B, which will appear on the April 8 ballot, is bad for county residents.
“Who would want to lead a department in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County when they have seven additional bosses who all have different ideas on what priorities should be, which streets should be plowed, which vendors should be hired, which emails should be answered first?†Page said during his weekly address to the council.
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Council Chair Rita Heard Days said Page isn’t allowed to campaign about the issue during council meetings.
“If you continue to have these campaign slogans and your campaign ideas during our meeting, I will have to gavel you out of order,†Days said.
The measure will give the council the ability to hold department directors accountable, Days has said. The council has struggled to get information from the directors, who report to the county executive, she said.
Tom Sullivan, a frequent county critic, said he thinks Page has the right to express his opinion.
“If anyone disagrees with Mr. Page, they are likewise free to respond,†Sullivan said. “There’s nothing wrong with having discussions even if it relates to a ballot measure.â€
Councilwoman Shalonda Webb speaks at a county council meeting on Dec. 10, 2024. Video courtesy of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County, edited by Jenna Jones.
