Ward 4 Seniors’ Commission Bows to Councilmember
“We do not follow Robert’s Rules of Order,“ said the interim chair of the Ward 4 Mini-Commission on Aging, Gail Williams, at its meeting Thursday, November 14. Williams was responding to a call for a Point of Order as Director of the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) Charon P.W. Hines prepared to swear in newly appointed members of the Board. In fact, Article II of the Mini-Commission Bylaws, distributed at the meeting, require Robert’s Rules of Order.
At the previous meeting in October, members challenged the Board’s removal of the elected chair, Jocelynn Johnson, for unsupported charges of disrespect from Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, who, in a letter to the Board dated September 16, said she would not return to the Mini-Commission until a new chair was appointed.
The meeting began ominously when Williams stationed an MPD officer at the entrance and announced that seniors who were disruptive would be expelled from the meeting.
At the October meeting, the membership moved to reinstate Johnson, but Williams adjourned the meeting, saying the matter would be taken up at the November meeting. In November, however, Williams ignored the motion, saying, “We dealt with the matter last month.” She said seniors could elect someone of their choosing next September, but one has to wonder, what is the point of holding elections if the board can unseat the elected incumbent without due process at the request of the Councilmember. If Williams is unfamiliar with the bylaws, surely Director Hines knows them, yet allowed the transgression without objection.
“We have asked for the videotape of the meetings and will pursue my reinstatement. We will win respect for the democratic process, free from interference from Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George,” Johnson said.
Nick DelleDonne
Nov. 18, 2024