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Hawkins explains his recent no-contact memo
By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
Last week, the City Council decided to take Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. to task about his recent memorandum directing all of them to refrain from contact with city employees without administrative approval.
Council members’ persistent questioning resulted in Hawkins listing the reasons for issuing the edict to restrict communications.
Hawkins said it had come to his attention that some council members were making requests for city employees to take actions that were prohibited by law.
He said there had been rumors that some police and municipal court personnel were being asked to assist certain individuals who were facing prosecution. That, said Hawkins, was inappropriate behavior. He did not specify any occurrences.
That’s why, said Hawkins, he believed it would be best to streamline the communications process. East Ward Councilwoman Lisa Perkins, however, said she did not believe improper requests were made of city employees.
Perkins said she believed the mayor was using the issue to cover what she considered another grab for power at the council’s expense. She tied it to his attempt to claim the fire director’s position and become a full-time mayor even though the city code states the mayor’s position is considered part-time.
“I think this is going to hurt us in our jobs as advocates for our constituents. Now we are being forbidden to take peoples’ concerns directly to the people who can do something about them right away,” said Perkins. “I also think that this is an election year and this can hurt us as council members who want to get re-elected because it makes us look like we can’t get things done for the people who voted us into office.
“If he’s going to be a mayor for all the people, you have to do things for everyone, not just your political friends and allies, and try to get along with people you may not like personally for the benefit of all the people,” added Perkins.
Last week, the City Council decided to take Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. to task about his recent memorandum directing all of them to refrain from contact with city employees without administrative approval.
Council members’ persistent questioning resulted in Hawkins listing the reasons for issuing the edict to restrict communications.
Hawkins said it had come to his attention that some council members were making requests for city employees to take actions that were prohibited by law.
He said there had been rumors that some police and municipal court personnel were being asked to assist certain individuals who were facing prosecution. That, said Hawkins, was inappropriate behavior. He did not specify any occurrences.
That’s why, said Hawkins, he believed it would be best to streamline the communications process. East Ward Councilwoman Lisa Perkins, however, said she did not believe improper requests were made of city employees.
Perkins said she believed the mayor was using the issue to cover what she considered another grab for power at the council’s expense. She tied it to his attempt to claim the fire director’s position and become a full-time mayor even though the city code states the mayor’s position is considered part-time.
“I think this is going to hurt us in our jobs as advocates for our constituents. Now we are being forbidden to take peoples’ concerns directly to the people who can do something about them right away,” said Perkins. “I also think that this is an election year and this can hurt us as council members who want to get re-elected because it makes us look like we can’t get things done for the people who voted us into office.
“If he’s going to be a mayor for all the people, you have to do things for everyone, not just your political friends and allies, and try to get along with people you may not like personally for the benefit of all the people,” added Perkins.
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