Removing commission members, homeless task force focus of study session (Corrected)

In a scheduling of unintentional irony, the Fort Smith Board of Directors considered at their Aug. 25 study session the process the board may use to remove members of city boards and commissions and an ordinance creating a commission to study the homelessness issue in Fort Smith.

According to a memo from Ray Gosack, deputy Fort Smith city administrator, the board requested a report on the legalities of removing members of the 29 boards, commission and committees under the city’s jurisdiction.

A report from Rick Wade, assistant city attorney through the Daily & Woods law firm, shows a wide range of removal processes. The board has no authority in removing members of the Advertising & Promotion Commission. To remove a member of the airport commission requires a three-fourths vote of the board. A member of the civil service commission, parks and recreation commission and civic center commission may be removed with a two-thirds vote of the board. A port authority member may be removed by the city administrator with the board’s approval. (Link here for more info on Wade’s report.)

City Director Cole Goodman said the “hodgepodge” of rules need to be more consistent. He said rules allowing the board to appoint people but not to remove them creates “local fiefdoms” that may result in something similar to the “mess with the airport commission.”

Corrected info: When then-Airport Director Bob Johnson picked a fight with the Air Force National Guard (188th Fighter Wing), the Fort Smith board of directors unable to deal with Johnson, but he was evenutally fired by the airport commission which received pressure from the board of directors and the public. The Johnson firing resulted in a lengthy and bitter court battle.

During the Tuesday meeting, the directors wanted to know if discussions to remove commission members could take place in executive session. Gosack said since discussions to appoint are made in executive session, discussions to remove likely would follow a similar process. However, Gosack said the legalities would be researched.

City Administrator Dennis Kelly suggested the directors consider a “two-tier” removal process that provides a two-thirds vote on broad reasons for ejection, but a simple majority vote to replace a board member who has committed a felony or been found guilty of violating moral norms.

Wade was asked to return with an ordinance that outlines a more consistent process to remove members of boards and commission.

HOMELESS STUDY
The board then approved creating a task force to “study homelessness issues in Fort Smith.” The task force idea results from several factors.

The primary factor behind the task force is that many of the agencies helping the homeless in the area are located in downtown Fort Smith and near the Belle Grove Historic District. This creates a conflict with the effort to commercially revitalize downtown Fort Smith and encourage historic investment in Belle Grove. About three years ago there was an attempt to get the social service agencies to collectively move to a new location. That effort failed. A recent plan by the Community Rescue Mission to build a 12-room dormitory in near 4th and F Streets in downtown Fort Smith restarted the conflict between social service agencies and the commercial and residential interests.

The directors agreed to create a task force — with a limited time frame to study the issue and forward a proposal — with equal representation among those representing the service agencies and those representing the neighborhoods/downtown. The board will next be presented with names of those willing to serve on the task force.