Clifton Commission Meets in Special Session, Concerns About Recent Events Addressed

The Clifton City Commission met in special session on Monday, October 5, at 8am. Mayor Mark Staggs called the special meeting after three commissioners didn’t show up at the September meeting in protest of some comments Mayor Staggs allegedly made to Commissioner Jeff Letson in regard to city meetings. Commissioner Letson, Commissioner Micheal Francis, and Commissioner Dwight Thompson were the three who boycotted the September meeting, but they were in attendance on October 5.

Mayor Staggs opened the meeting by reading a statement he prepared after the September meeting was cancelled. He said that the purpose of the city commission is to conduct city business and to serve the citizens, and the commissioners who didn’t show up for the September meeting were not performing their duties to the city.

Commissioner Letson read a statement during the meeting that he had already shared with several people, including The Wayne County News. In part, his statement read, “We three commissioners refrained from attending the September city meeting in peaceful protest of a mayor who has lost sight of his duties, and fails to listen to his fellow commissioners. He has lost sight that he is one of five commissioners, only one vote and that majority rules. This is also about transparency and verbal sequestration.”

Commissioner Letson went on to state that a large turnout had been expected, and did indeed show up, for the September meeting because of recent events associated with the Horseshoe Riverbend Festival. Letson said that he, Commissioner Francis, and Commissioner Thompson had all asked the mayor to move the meeting to Columbia State Community College “where we could accommodate more of the community to address their concerns in a more comfortable and roomy environment.”

Letson said that the mayor told each of the three commissioners that the meeting would remain at city hall, allegedly stating, “We don’t need to open the doors to that many people in the community.” Mayor Staggs denied making that comment to anyone.

Commissioner Letson alleged that Mayor Staggs also said public comments would not be allowed at the September meeting. Mayor Staggs refuted this as well, denying that he ever said anything like that.

The main thing on most everyone’s mind at the special meeting was what took place at the Horseshoe Riverbend Festival. It has come to light that a registered sex offender, who is the son of former Main Street Director Shawnee Iacono, volunteered and was allowed to work at the festival. Female students from Frank Hughes High School were allegedly asked by former city manager Kristeen Duren to volunteer at the festival as well. It was revealed by Mayor Staggs that the same sex offender also volunteered at last year’s festival.

City Attorney Mike Hinson replied to the first question from the audience about the sex offender. Hinson said he became aware of the situation just prior to the festival and was told that no one knew [presumably city officials]. The audience began to speak all at once in protest to Mr. Hinson’s statement, and he threatened to shut the meeting down, saying he could do so at any time he wanted to. Things settled down, and Mr. Hinson went on to say that Clifton City Police Chief Steve Wilson, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and the TBI were all contacted about the situation and what could be done.

Mr. Hinson said, and Police Chief Wilson confirmed, that even though the volunteer is on the Sex Offender Registry, he is allowed to be in attendance at public events. The offender was allegedly “closely watched” at the festival, but it wasn’t made clear as to whom, in addition to Chief Wilson, was watching him. Mayor Staggs acknowledged that “someone had dropped the ball” on the situation. Both City Manager Kristeen Duren and Main Street Director Shawnee Iacono resigned after the incident took place.

Emma McWilliams from The Wayne County News asked Mayor Staggs if there was any particular reason why he scheduled the special meeting for eight o’clock in the morning. (City meetings are usually held at 6pm.) Mayor Staggs responded that he wanted to get things going such as looking for a new city manager and passing the road closure ordinance for Halloween Trunk or Treat. The mayor didn’t respond when asked if those things would take place before 6pm that day.

When questioned more about the incident with the sex offender, both Mayor Staggs and Vice Mayor Prince said they were aware prior to the Horseshoe Riverbend Festival that the man was on the Sex Offender Registry. Mrs. McWilliams suggested that everyone in city government should be aware of city residents who are on the registry. Members of the audience said that anyone volunteering at events where underage children might be present should be subjected to background checks, and Mayor Staggs agreed.

As stated before, Mayor Staggs said this particular sex offender had not only volunteered at this year’s festival, but volunteered at last year’s festival as well. No one besides the mayor and vice mayor confirmed that they had known about the sex offender prior to this year’s event, but it is obvious that both the City Manager and the Main Street Director knew (he is the Main Street Director’s son). Whoever knew at the time of last year’s festival that let him volunteer this year as well is unclear. Even though no laws were broken, most seem to agree that it was poor judgment to knowingly allow him to volunteer again this year.

It was confirmed last week by Dr. Ricky Inman, Wayne County Director of Schools, that the Board of Education had filed a formal complaint against the City of Clifton and the Clifton City Manager after the Frank Hughes High School volunteers were knowingly asked to volunteer and were put in relatively close proximity to the sex offender at the festival. Mayor Staggs’ answer to most questions about the situation was that both City Manager Kristeen Duren and Main Street Director Shawnee Iacono had resigned, so “problem solved.”

It was voted and unanimously agreed at the special meeting that moving forward, city commission meetings will be held at the fire hall where there is more room for those who want to attend.

The next scheduled meeting of the Clifton City Commission is Monday, October 26, at 6pm.