Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie expressed intense displeasure with the City Council voting 4-3 to not approve a request for the mayor to attend additional executive education sessions during his trip to the National League of Cities’ 2024 Centennial City Summit on Nov. 10-17 in Tampa, Florida.
The item, which was listed as part of the council’s regular consent agenda at the Aug. 27 meeting at City Hall, requested the funds to allow attendance at extra sessions by the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBCLEO). The extra sessions would cost $1,327.03, along with extra meals and lodging for three days.
City Secretary Sherri Bellard noted the conference is preapproved but any extra education costs outside the actual conference would come before the council for approval.
Position 5 At Large Councilmember Thomas Kinlaw III made the motion to deny the request, seconded by Position 6 At-Large Councilmember Donald Frank, Sr. A roll call vote was requested by District 4 Councilmember Harold Doucet, Sr. on the heels of Mayor Pro Tem Doneane Beckcom clarifying that Bartie was seeking funding to attend a “pre-conference” Nov. 11 and 12.
Kinlaw, Beckcom, District 1 Councilmember Willie Lewis, Jr. and Doucet opposed the request, while Franks, Bartie and District 2 Councilmember Tiffany L. Hamilton Everfield were in favor.
Following the vote, Bartie spent approximately two minutes bashing the council.
“The bigotry and jealousy and discontent that assails in this room has a stench that this city is not going to progress because of that,” remarked Bartie.
“I’m only going to learn some things to be even a better mayor. But, because of those things I just described, Port Arthur is not going to be a good place. This shows openly what these individuals would do for this city.”