No-show aldermen stall Ocean Springs meeting on city attorney conduct concerns
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WXXV) — Two members of the Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen called a special meeting of the board for Monday afternoon to discuss what they say are concerns regarding the city attorney. In a turn of events, the meeting did not take place because the other aldermen failed to show up.
The meeting was called by Aldermen Karen Stennis (Ward 2) and Shannon Pfeiffer (Ward 4) to discuss conduct and actions of City Attorney David Harris, but Stennis and Pfeiffer were the only two aldermen to appear.
“As you can see, several of our colleagues chose not to attend. Without a quorum this meeting can not officially convene, but the issues do not disappear because the chairs are empty,” said Alderman Stennis. “Ocean Springs needs public council that protects the public interest, not the personal interest. We must be able to trust the advice being given to us, so that we can make decisions that benefit the city and our residents — not David Harris.”
The aldermen say Harris’ conduct in question includes potential conflicts of interest, incorrect legal guidance provided to the board, the handling of executive session matters, and more. Stennis and Pfeiffer are also planning to introduce a motion to exercise the termination clause in Harris’ contract.
“Our colleagues on the board have repeatedly voted to overlook the serious issues, but when the time came to answer questions, they did not show up. My message to them is simple. If you won’t defend the conduct, at least don’t hide from the conversation,” said Alderman Pfeiffer. “When a city attorney writes a veto into the minutes that never happened, misstates the law to secure his own contract, refuses to recuse himself from the deliberation of his own bid, and recommends a vendor that would pay him a percentage… these are not minor issues. These are serious breaches of public trust and the law.”
City Hall was filled with Ocean Springs residents who were displeased with the turn of events.
“I’m extremely disappointed that only two of our aldermen upheld their oath of office and acted ethically and with integrity on this matter,” said resident Joe Jewell. “David Harris is not the attorney that we want for the City of Ocean Springs. He’s falsified public records, he has misinterpreted and misrepresented the law when speaking to the Board of Aldermen. We are here tonight to support Aldermen Stennis and Alderman Pfeiffer in their efforts to terminate his contract.”
Alderman Pfeiffer says these concerns will be presented to the board again during their December meeting.
“Ocean Springs deserves better than conflicted council, and it deserves better than elected officials who don’t show up when it matters,” said Pfeiffer.
