ASHFORD - What We Have Is A Failure To Communicate Effectively

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Jun 17 2019 7:53 PM

ASHFORD:    Tonight the Mayor of Ashford and City Council came together for their regular scheduled meeting. 

And over the last several days this meeting has heated up in Ashford. In the end the final results were a failure to communicate.

The City Council Members, the County Commissioners, their authority only comes by the following: (1) a meeting is “legally” called, a “quorum” is present, and the “public” meeting is officially called to order,(2) and in that meeting the City Council Members or County Commissioner gets a “majority” vote for whatever he or she is working to accomplish.

If the City Councilman or County Commissioner fails to get a “majority” vote in the “official” meeting “while legally called to order”, he or she is powerless.

Other than an official meeting the City Councilman or County Commissioner has to deal through the Mayor or County Commission Chairman. The City of Dothan is set up different in that the Mayor and City Commissioners are required to act “through” the City Manager.

Ashford City Councilman Gary Gibson hada legitimate question. He had never seen or read the handbook for the Police Department which is different than the regular handbook for Ashford City employees.

Councilman Gibson went to the Mayor’s Office and there was not one there. So he went directly to Ashford Police Chief Quinton Vann.

Vann said that request will have to come through the Mayor. Gibson did not really like that answer. But there was a rumor ongoing through town that Councilman Gibson did not like the beard of Police Chief Vann. Since his employment some six years as Chief Vann has had a beard.

MISCOMMUNICATION - Gibson was not about the beard. In fact Gibson has a mustache and chin beard ( don’t know how to spell what he has ). Gibson had never seen the handbook. It was signed by the former Mayor and as a Councilman Gibson wanted to see it. Fair Enough. But the rumors had the police department somewhat on the defensive.

Before the meeting Councilman Gibson went to Ashford Police Chief Vann’s office and they talked. They “communicated” about what this was all about. And then both understood.

So in what was thought to be fireworks was actually resolved because of “communication” between two adults. And one not attempting to pull power play on the other.

As three gentleman spoke following the meeting, Ashford has some positive things going on. Some good things are happening and some good folks are working to make things happen in Ashford. And drama is not what is needed.

Once the “miscommunications” turned into “communications”, problem solved. 

No power plays, no talking down, no thinking you are better than, just simple “communications”.

The Ashford Mayor and City Council handled other items of business. Then went into a work session following the meeting and discussed the handbook, work hours and various other topics. Working towards one common goal and interest, making Ashford a better place to live, work, attend church and the hometown community.

Work Session

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