The Russellville City Council meeting became contentious Monday night when Councilman Lanny Hubbard became angered by a recommendation to fill a civil service board seat representing his district.
During the work session, Hubbard asked his fellow council members who would second his motion to fill the slot representing District 4. When no one volunteered to second the motion, Hubbard took exception.
“Oh, so this is a black thing now?” he asked. “This is the most racist council I have ever seen.”
When the regular meeting began, Hubbard declined to make a recommendation for the position. Councilman Jeff Masterson then made a motion to fill the spot, a move that angered Hubbard.
The two argued heatedly for several minutes before Mayor Troy Oliver called the meeting back to order.
The council voted 4-1 to appoint Masterson’s nominee.
“The thing that upsets me the most is that he went into my district like a coward in the night and picked someone instead of letting me handle it,” Hubbard said.
“I had the appointment, I put it on the agenda, but they used it for their own political games, trying to position themselves in order to get votes.”
Masterson said Hubbard never told the council who he wanted to appoint, that’s why no one volunteered to second his motion. He also said that he was upset by Hubbard’s accusations that other council members actions were racially motivated.
“It disappoints me that in the year 2012 Councilman Hubbard would play the race card over not getting his way,” Masterson said.
“Everyone attending the meeting saw that Hubbard failed the people of his district by not recommending nor disclosing who he preferred for the civil service slot that he feels is his. Not to mention that he has failed on occasion to honor other councilmen’s recommendations for board selections. The slot needed to be filled, and after giving Hubbard plenty of opportunity to make a motion, I recommended someone who will represent District 4 and the city in a fair and professional manner, someone who I might add is of the same sex and race as the outgoing board member. “How that’s being racist is a mystery to me. As a matter of fact, I’ve already heard from several residents of District 4 applauding our selection. I like Lanny and I hate that he’s upset, but I believe when he’s had time for this to sink in, he’ll see that this was a good selection. He and I may even go fishing or something and let everyone else argue for a while.”