Monday’s Jefferson County Quorum Court meeting proceeded as scheduled despite a written cancellation attempt by County Judge Gerald Robinson. The majority of the Quorum Court members were present, while Robinson was absent.
The most prominent action of the meeting was the successful override of the judge’s veto of Ordinance 2025-8. A motion was made and seconded to override the veto, and after some discussion and clarification, a roll call vote was conducted.
The motion passed unanimously with the required eight votes to override the veto. Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll, who clarified his right to vote as a justice of the peace, cast one of the deciding votes.
Carroll chaired the meeting with fellow justices of the peace Brenda Bishop Gaddy, Melanie Johnson Dumas, Reginald Adams, Margarette Williams, Cedric Jackson, Reginald Johnson and Richard Victorino in attendance. The main action taken was the successful override of the judge’s veto of Ordinance 2025-8.
In March, the justices passed a procedural ordinance that dictates how justices of the peace should operate. However, Robinson vetoed the ordinance that same week. The procedural ordinance is one of many issues where certain members of the Quorum Court and Robinson have been at odds, with neither side able to exert enough influence to enact their desired changes.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
During Monday’s meeting, a question arose regarding the meeting’s legality. This was due to Robinson’s letter dated April 4, which was hand-delivered to Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter’s office on Friday. The letter was to cancel Monday’s meeting.
The letter cited “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason for the cancellation. However, Hunter pointed out that Section 14-14-904 of the Arkansas Code states that a county judge may only change the day, place, or time if there is a declaration of emergency or a determination that the safety of the general public is at risk.
Since no emergency or public danger was indicated, some felt the cancellation was not properly done. Despite these concerns, Carroll affirmed the meeting’s legality, stating that the veto override issue needed to be addressed at the next regular meeting.
Particulars of the ordinance was passed by unanimous vote, but vetoed by Robinson, include:
Regular meetings are set for “the Monday following the first Tuesday of each month, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Regular committee meetings were scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.”
A majority vote of the Quorum Court is required to change the regular meeting day or location. However, the county judge is authorized to reschedule the Quorum Court’s regular and committee meetings in the event of public safety issues, holiday conflicts, or public election conflicts.
The county judge or a majority (seven) of the elected justices may call special meetings of the Quorum Court with 24 hours’ notice. A committee chair or two members of any committee may call a special meeting of the committee with 24-hour notice to its members and the press per Section 14-14-904(c)(1).
The full Quorum Court will hold a budget meeting to prepare and present a budget to the Quorum Court to appropriate funding for the upcoming year’s budget. All elected officials are required to submit their budget requests to the County Clerk’s office by Oct. 15 to allow time for review by the Finance and Budget Committee.
Any ordinance or amendment must be introduced by a justice of the peace, and requests for court action must have a sponsoring justice of the peace. Items with “super sponsorship of five or more sponsors shall be added to the next Quorum Court meeting agenda.” Items can bypass the committee with nine votes to suspend the rules. The county clerk or designee is responsible for preparing the agenda.
The Quorum Court has the authority to transfer an item to another committee by motion and majority vote.
The preparation of the Quorum Court agenda for all Quorum Court and committee meetings shall be the duty of the county clerk (secretariat) or designee.
Every legislative or agenda item must bear the name of the sponsoring justice. The county clerk may accept verbal or written authorization from a sponsor to attach their name to the agenda item.
Committee chairs must entertain questions and comments from non-committee members, but only committee members can vote. The county judge appoints committee members.
When five or more JPs sign on to sponsor a legislative request, it shall be added to the most immediate Quorum Court agenda.
The Quorum Court may create any new committees as deemed necessary. The county judge shall appoint all committee members to all Quorum Court committees, subject to the procedural rules outlined in the ordinance.
Each committee will consist of seven members; however, the Finance & Budget Committee will consist of all 13 members of the Quorum Court, upon consent of the county judge; otherwise, it will also consist of seven members.
Each Quorum Court committee will select its committee chairperson and assistant chairperson by majority vote. When a committee member is absent, the county judge may appoint a temporary member if a quorum is not present.
A JP may serve as chairperson of only one Quorum Court committee at a time.
No JP can serve on more than one additional committee than any other JP.
The last procedural ordinance successfully passed by the Jefferson County Quorum Court expired in December 2022.
Adding to the procedural challenges, it was revealed that the county’s email communications were down, hindering communication among officials. Johnson publicly noted this lack of communication, stating that the county “does not have email at this time.”