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Local News
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Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 10:11 AM
Lucama commissioners challenged by residents By Gina Childress | Daily Times Staff Writer LUCAMA -- Ron Moreira, a Lucama commissioner, questioned Monday whether the board takes seriously or follows through with promises for answers when it comes to public concerns. "Mayor, the public brings concerns to us and we never meet to talk about them," Ron Moreira said during a town meeting. "We keep telling them we will look at it but then we never meet to discuss them. Are we going to meet about any of these issues?" "Sure, we can call a work session," Atkinson said. The comment by Moreira came after a meeting filled with tension and frustration exhibited by citizens. Sparks flew when Lucama Community Improvement Committee representative Shelly Moreira, Ron Moreira's wife, asked the board if they could consider reviewing some of the town's ordinances since they seemed to be in need of updating. "It seems like it is something that should be looked at," said Shelly Moreira. "Some of the ordinances are over 50 years old," added Barbara Shaut, a Lucama resident and LCIC member. "We need to get them up-to-date." In an effort to support Moreira's request to the board, Shaut said her neighbor was putting up a fence that she wasn't happy about, because the "good" side or the smooth side of the fence was not facing her and it was uneven. She feels that an updated ordinance should address that type of issue. "Well I think it would be common courtesy for you to quit bitching about it (the fence)," said Commissioner Leo Bass. As it turns out, Shaut's neighbor is Bass' sister. During the public comment section of the meeting, Lucama resident Dennis Beichner addressed Bass' outburst at Shaut. "I believe what Commissioner Bass said was very unprofessional," Beichner said. "I believe he should give her an apology." Bass defended himself by saying Shaut is the one to blame for the tension. "She (Shaut) has been very unprofessional with this," Bass said. "You should have heard some of the things she has said." "I'm not going to give her an apology," Bass said after the meeting. "When she apologizes to Tammy Keesler ( town administrator), then I'll apologize to her." Shaut approached Lucama Mayor Dolan Atkinson after the meeting to let him know she didn't like Bass' comment to her. "I can't apologize for him," Atkinson said. "When it happened, I said 'that's enough'." Atkinson declined to comment on whether he would speak to Bass about his behavior during the meeting. "I will handle it on my own time," Atkinson said. But, that was not the only conflict during Monday's meeting. Each month since January, the LCIC has requested updates from commissioners on various issues, such as, beautification of the town, updating the web site and junked cars violating the town ordinance only to receive the response of "we will take a look at it". Bass said he believes input is good but the public has no right to make demands on the board. "Everything they bring to us is legitimate," said Bass. "It is the way they are going about doing it. I don't mind if they (residents) come, but don't demand something from us. I didn't ask them to come up here anyway." "Like buying the train depot. I can not see buying it," Bass said. "It looks to me when they asked about it in January or February and didn't get an answer, then I would've quit (asking)." Brenda Blalock, a long-time resident of Lucama and member of the LCIC, disagrees with Bass' opinion. "We live here," she said. "They work for us. If they don't want us here (at the meetings), then they need to step down." gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821
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