NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Dan Gibson declined Tuesday to publicly detail “questionable” expenditures at City Hall that he prompted Natchez police officers to investigate and turn over findings to state auditors for further review.
Gibson last week issued a public statement reporting “a discrepancy” involving “a questionable transfer of city funds into external accounts” had taken place.
His Nov. 17 disclosure occurred just days after the resignation of former city clerk Servia Fortenberry. She reportedly has said the red-flagged money is actually $11,300 she disbursed for her salary and other compensation owed to her before leaving the job earlier this month. Fortenberry had served two years as Natchez’ chief financial officer.
Gibson said he can’t say more about the money in question as it’s being looked into by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. An agency official said the same.
“We don’t confirm or comment on potential or pending investigations, but (the public can know details) as information becomes reportable,” said Logan Reeves, a spokesman for state Auditor Shad White.
Fortenberry, who announced in October her plans to resign this month, has been replaced by Megan McKenzie, who the Board of Aldermen hired two weeks ago. She previously served as city clerk for nearly two years until 2018.
The mayor and aldermen convened Tuesday for their regularly scheduled meeting, but they did not publicly discuss the inquiry into City Hall’s financial irregularities, which Gibson said is now “under the auditor’s control.”
The board did close the public out of a session with Gibson to interview candidates applying to be deputy city clerk and discuss who to hire. Aldermen voted to hire someone but did not disclose the name of the person they agreed is best for the position. They also declined to reveal how much they would pay the clerk as they confirm whether the prospect actually takes the job and agrees on the salary.
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The mayor and Alderman Felicia Irving continued their quarrel that erupted two weeks ago when Irving complained about being left out and not informed of what’s going on in municipal affairs.
Presiding Tuesday at his twice-a-month meeting with the Board of Aldermen, Gibson said Irving strives “to create political division” in “an antagonistic manner.” The Ward 4 alderman rebutted, saying the mayor “disrespects” her and is trying to “divide and conquer” as he exerts his powers as the city’s chief executive.
Irving expressed frustration at the board’s Nov. 9 meeting with Gibson that she didn’t know enough about a group of students’ community project to spruce up Jack Waite Park located in her ward. In an effort “to correct the record,” Gibson on Tuesday replayed a video of a previous meeting where aldermen were informed of the park project.
As Irving continued to voice her concerns Tuesday near the end of the board’s public meeting, the mayor gaveled the session over. “I’m not interested in any more arguments,” he said.
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