Nominating and Rules Committee Special Called Meeting - May 12, 2026
Nominating and Rules Committee Special Called Meeting - May 12, 2026
The Jonesboro City Council's Nominating and Rules Committee held a special called meeting on May 12, 2026, at 5:15 PM at the Municipal Center. The committee approved prior meeting minutes and considered a resolution for appointments to various boards and commissions, ultimately amending it to remove the Advertising and Promotion Commission appointments due to procedural requirements.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (MIN-26:026): The minutes from the March 17, 2026 Nominating and Rules Committee meeting were approved. A motion by John Street, seconded by Brian Emison, passed unanimously (4-0, with Chris Moore and LJ Bryant absent).
Discussion Items
- Resolution RES-26:055 – Appointments to Boards and Commissions: The resolution, sponsored by the Mayor's Office, proposed appointments and reappointments to several bodies, including the CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee, Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission, Land Bank Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Municipal Airport Commission.
- Amendment to Remove A&P Commission Appointments: Councilmember Brian Emison moved to remove the A&P Commission section of the resolution. Chairman Chris Gibson explained that state law and A&P bylaws require the A&P Commission itself to nominate its at-large member, not the mayor. The committee voted unanimously to amend (4-0).
- Clarification on the A&P Commission Process: City Attorney Carol Duncan confirmed that under state law, the A&P commissioners nominate the at-large position, which is then approved by the city council. The A&P Commission planned to meet the following Monday (May 18, 2026) to nominate a candidate. Chairman Gibson noted that under council rules, the nomination must still come through the Nominating and Rules Committee, though Duncan agreed to double-check before the next meeting.
- Question on Civil Service Commission: Councilmember Dr. Anthony Coleman asked about the Civil Service Commission's role. Duncan explained that it serves as an appellate board for disciplinary actions (e.g., termination, suspension) for the Fire Department, as the Police Department no longer participates.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Amend RES-26:055: Passed (4-0) to remove the Advertising and Promotion Commission appointments.
- Motion to Recommend the Amended RES-26:055 to Full Council: Passed (4-0, with Chris Moore and LJ Bryant absent). The resolution, as amended, will be forwarded to the full City Council.
- Next Steps for A&P Appointments: The A&P Commission will hold a meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, to nominate candidates. The committee may call a special meeting (with appropriate notice) to review the nomination before the City Council's Tuesday meeting, if needed.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:35 PM, following a motion by Brian Emison, seconded by John Street, passed (4-0).
Meeting Transcript
Next item of business is approval of minutes 26026. I'll give you a moment to review those if you're not already looked over them and then I'll entertain a motion. Move to approve lessons noted change. Second I have a motion and second. All in favor signify saying aye. Aye. Any opposed like signed. Next item of business is new business resolutions to be introduced. Resolution 2605. Uh resolution by the city council, City of Jonesboro, Arkansas to make appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions as recommended by Mayor Hill Copenhager, whereas the following appointments, reappointments have been recommended by Mayor Hill Copenhager. Now there be it resolved by the City Council for City of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The following appointments, reappointments be confirmed. CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee, reappointment of Pedro Ramirez, Reggie Prunny, Trina Long to three year terms ending 5-1929. Appointment of Mark Morrow, Carly Steele, Dalton Hodges, Aaron Smith, and Christie Adams, three-year terms ending 5-1929. Advertising and Promotion Commission appointment of Andy Shatley to a five-year term ending four or five 2031. Janine Gillis to three-year terms ending 6 2029. Land Bay Commission reappointment, Corey Mills and Daisy Freeman to four-year terms ending 517-2030. Civil Services Commission reappointment, Amy McDonald to a six-year term ending 5-19-2032. Municipal Air Cor Airport Commission reappointment of Brandon Winters, Alan Williams, Bob Gibson to three-year terms ending 6, 2029. Move forward to full council. We we actually Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a amendment to resolution 26055. Okay. Specifically section that's regarding the advertising and promotions commission. I would like to remove that section of the resolution, please. And I'll I'll explain briefly and Carol can interject if I make a mistake, but that goes against state law and our uh AMP bylaws. Those have to be made by the committee, so we need to pull those off and let the committee meet first before we move forward. Make a motion to amend that. Yes, sir. Yes, okay. Have motion second. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed like sign? Any other discussion by the committee on this resolution? I do have a question about that. Um so the reason we're pulling it is because of what exactly? Under state law, the at-large position is nominated by the AMP commissioners themselves and then approved by city council. It's just different. And it got it. My understanding is it was an oversight that it was put on here, but it is put on by who then. Well, the mayor's office sent out all the whole laundry list. They were looking at appointments that were expiring and just you know, nominating people with those appointments, and and this got put on there, but it is correct that that nomination has to be made by the AMP commission and then approved by city council. So I've my understanding is they're gonna have a meeting Monday that's great in order to vote on who their nominee is, and then it'll be presented possibly Tuesday if we call another meeting or whenever rules and nominating meets again. Okay, follow up two things. One um is that the same with all of the other commissions and committees? That particular one, just that one. Second question. What is civil service commission? Anybody had I had the same question that has to do with the fire department?
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