Several Oberlin residents brought issues before the council that were not listed on the agenda and had to be added to the agenda.
Barbara Lee was added to the agenda to speak on the city’s continued maintenance of the cemetery in town. Lee said 15 years ago she attempted to buy a plot there and was told there was no room. She said there are no black people buried in the Oberlin Town Cemetery. Lee asked why does the town continue to use taxpayers’ dollars to upkeep the cemetery when citizens are being denied purchasing plots.
Mayor Joseph “Moochie” Manuel explained he has not denied any person based on race a space in the cemetery. He said the prior administration did deny Lee when they told her there were no plots. He said he offered two plots to another citizen last week when she was denied a plot in another cemetery based on color.
Councilman Bobby Thomas explained the land is owned by the town and that is why Oberlin continues to maintain the property.
City Clerk Charlotte Artis said no one was going to be denied a plot. She said work is underway on an ordinance.
The mayor said he hoped it would be presented at the next meeting. He said there are plots, and no one would be denied based on color.
The mayor allowed Temisha Sonnier to speak, and she pondered why injustices still exist in Oberlin. She said excuses always started with it’s the way it has been done. “We need to change policies,” she said.
(Note: After the meeting, it was learned plots are $100 each and sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.)
Aaron Brown was added to the meeting’s agenda. He read a statement about inequalities. He said he asked to be on the agenda and wanted to know why his name was not added for him to speak. He also claimed his water bill was over $600, and he had asked the mayor for assistance. Brown explained he had a health issue in November and did pay $140 twice in January. He said his water was cut off, and he had no water for four days.
Brown accused the police chief of not doing his job, and said the officers treated him horribly when he went to the station for help. He then went to the chief’s house, and he said the chief put his hands on him and asked Brown to leave his property. Brown said he went to the sheriff’s office, but the chief was there speaking to the deputy.
A shouting match began between the mayor and Brown during Brown’s speech. He asked the mayor to allow him to speak. Both men hollered profanities at each other. Members of the council attempted to calm the two men, and asked the mayor to allow Brown to finish.
At one point the mayor said he was leaving the meeting. The mayor did walk out but returned a few minutes later to confront Brown again when he walked into the audience area. The two men were separated again.
The mayor returned to the building again, and the two men exchanged profanities again. Brown completed his statement and walked out of the meeting.
(Note: After the meeting, it was explained a government body selling utilities is responsible for lines running to the customers’ meters. Customers (residents) are responsible for lines from the meter to the residence and must make repairs on any broken lines. Utilities are businesses that require deposits and payments on a monthly basis. Those users who fail to pay for utilities are usually disconnected.)
During the meeting, the council addressed the District Two seat. Michelle Coleman was appointed two months ago to the seat. When she didn’t qualify for the position to be placed on the March ballot, the town had to ask the Secretary of State for guidance in handling the open council seat.
The mayor said he turned to the town’s attorney, and learned once no one qualified for the seat, it became open again. A nomination for Chris Davis was placed on the table.
Coleman asked to explain her situation stating due to her job she learned she couldn’t qualify for the seat unless no political party was associated with her name. Unfortunately, Louisiana adds political parties on its ballot to the candidate’s name. She said she did learn she could be appointed to the seat until it was filled.
Coleman said she had to research the law by visiting the local courthouse and Secretary of State’s Office as well as speaking to her representative at work. She is a federal employee. She also said she was told she would have to resign from the position since she didn’t qualify for it.
Coleman said she was led to believe by the mayor she would have to resign based on his information from the town’s attorney. She said she called the attorney and learned it wasn’t true.
Thomas added Coleman’s name to be considered for the appointment. The vote was two-to-two. Wayne Smith and Romelzy Willis Jr. for Davis. Thomas and Linda Boulden voted for Coleman. The mayor broke the tie with a vote for Davis.
In other business, the council:
•Approved the minutes of its January 11, meeting.
•Agreed to pay bills for February 2021.
•Heard from the mayor that the town’s audit was being completed, and he learned there was a deficit. He said the auditor did make some recommendations, but he would wait for the report to be given to the council.
