GRAVETTE -- The chairman of the Gravette Planning Commission has expressed his intention to resign.
In an email to commission members, city council members and Mayor Byron Warren, Ken Foxx said, "I'm resigning from the commission at its end of business August 12, 2014."
Foxx indicated he planned to resign at the end of the evening's commission meeting but, since he learned a quorum would not be present, the meeting was canceled.
Foxx said the reason for his resignation could best be summed up as "no action taken."
He has asked the city council for several actions and claims he has received no response on any of them. One of his main concerns is his request that the city provide the commission an ESRI license needed to complete the zoning area map.
Mayor Byron Warren has maintained the commission can use an ESRI license the city currently holds and says they have been given the software passwords it requires. Foxx, however, says he has been told it is illegal to share the license.
Other actions for which Foxx says he has received an unsatisfactory response include a request to place a commission member's name on the city council agenda, an objection to recording of commission meetings without consent and a complaint that the city planner failed to meet 2013 job performance commitments.
After stating the various issues, Foxx's email says, "There are too many examples where no action is taken when support is required. It is as if accountability is not to be expected."
He concluded by saying, "Speaking for myself, I cannot work in an organization that functions like this."
In remarks following Thursday's committee of the whole meeting, Mayor Warren said he did not know how to reply to Foxx's remarks. He said the city has given the commission the information requested and they are only awaiting maps needed to get the master street plan approved and complete the area zoning process.
Christy Green, a planning commission member, appeared at the July city council meeting and distributed a letter outlining the history of the ESRI license debate and objecting to the use of foul language in an exchange with the mayor. Mayor Warren says that, although it was labeled from "Gravette Planning Commission Members," not all commission members were aware of it.
The next scheduled meeting for the commission is Tuesday, Sept. 9.
General News on 08/20/2014