Jackson Free Press

Some council members learned for the first time Tuesday that rejected Parks and Recreation Director Charles Melvin is still making almost as much as he was as interim head of the department.

Chief Administration Officer Robert Walker informed the council that Melvin is now making $3,075 on a bi-weekly basis, amounting to almost $80,000 a year. His pay is only a few thousand dollars less than what he made before the council rejected his nomination.

"(Melvin) is now an assistant (chief administration officer)," Walker said.

Councilman Marshand Crisler was openly furious. Melton told the council recently that he had no intention of making a second nomination after the council rejected Melvin. "Are you saying that while (Melvin) is working as assistant CAO, he will also be over Parks and Recreation?"

"Yes, sir," Walker affirmed.

Crisler and Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon demanded to know how many assistant CAOs Walker had in his department.

"I have three," Walker said, later identifying the assistant CAOs as Goldia Revies, Melvin and Valerie Nevels. Barrett-Simon admitted that she had not even known of Nevels' position in the administration until today.

"All three of these people fall into the range that you're paying Mr. Melvin?" Crisler asked.

Walker affirmed that all assistant CAOs made between $70,000 and $80,000.

"What is the deal here?" Crisler demanded. "If the council rejects a department head, this person is taken out of that position and put into a new position that allows them to make the same salary we rejected them for? And yet when you talk to their office, they're still running that department? I'm sure you understand how convoluted that sounds, right?"

Melton recently decided to retain rejected interim head Todd Chandler as fire chief, re-assigning him as assistant fire chief with only a minor drop in his fire chief salary. Chandler, who is white, now makes almost $20,000 more than fellow Assistant Fire Chief Vernon Hughes, who is black—an issue that Hughes says is likely to come up in the near future. At a recent meeting of department heads, Chandler represented the fire department, and Melton called him "fire chief."

Melton supporter Councilman Frank Bluntson defended Melton's expensive re-assignment, pointing out that the council regularly interferes with the mayor's plans by trying to prevent him from installing his personal choices as department heads.

Crisler pointed that the council had approved most of Melton's department heads, like Michael Raff, Jimmy Heidel, Rick Hill, Thelman Boyd and Sarah O'Reilly-Evans. Council President Ben Allen explained that the council indiscriminately towing the mayor's line was not the way local government was supposed to work.

"Hey, I'm proud if there's disagreement between the council and the mayor," Allen said. "That's democracy there. That's what it's all about."

Barrett-Simon said the council is powerless to prevent the mayor from keeping Melvin in his $80,000 a year position.

"I hate this, but it's out of our hands," Barrett-Simon said. "It's in his power to put people where he wants in his administration."

Crisler remained unappeased after the council meeting.

"This top-heavy administration keeps making these expensive appointments when that position could have paid for at least three desperately needed positions somewhere else in the city, like code enforcement," Crisler said. "Walker says his budget's balanced, but we'll see."

The council will meet regarding the city's budget Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Previous Comments

ID

92184

Comment

Sounds like the city council needs to seriously look at not approving a budget to reign him in some.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-16T09:28:56-06:00

ID

92185

Comment

would you all consider asking margaret if she might want to take this matter to chancery court and get an injunction against the administration to prevent melvin from serving as the defacto department head over parks?

Author

chimneyville

Date

2007-05-16T10:01:39-06:00

ID

92186

Comment

Sounds like frank is out of control and his intention to reck the City of Jackson has come home to ruse. This is what Jackson wanted and this is what Jackson got. Too bad that all must suffer as this clown makes a total fool of all of the citizens. Even those unqualified persons working in areas that they haven't a clue will someday look back with regret and disappointment that this man (fm) put them in a position to simply lose their credibility.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-16T10:03:01-06:00

ID

92187

Comment

That would embolden him after the media got through skewering the Council. But hey, some of Melton's supporters are getting the land they want, the projects they want, and the jobs they want. So, who cares if the well-being of our City is screwed for years to come.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-16T10:05:06-06:00

ID

92188

Comment

that would cost alot of money for council members to retain an attorney.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-16T10:11:20-06:00

ID

92189

Comment

You know chimneyville, sometimes you have to wonder why they don't try harder to use the law in their favor? They could fuss a little more in the press and ask more from the AG's office. I hope Haley is proud of his capital city. But, I guess since Geraldo says he's pulling for him, then Haley has to stay lock-step with his base. I bet if Geraldo knew about all the other Melton stuff he'd have a different opinion. But, it goes to show he is not the "investigative reporter" he claims to be.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-16T10:11:48-06:00

ID

92190

Comment

Kingfish, the council has an attorney helping them pro-bono from what's been in the press/radio. What about all you blogging legal eagles? Go help them then.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-16T10:13:21-06:00

ID

92191

Comment

frank says he has a new method for running the City of JUackson with all of its SUCKERS. "I will use DANKO, Marco, RICO and VETO to keep you all in line."

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-16T10:44:00-06:00

ID

92192

Comment

Take out some of the top-heavy administrative positions and maybe we could put a dent in the city's deficit.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-05-16T12:01:52-06:00

ID

92193

Comment

You have to wonder when does this foolishness stop. This man is ruining our city and we're all just sitting back watching Rome burn. His lack of respect for the City and its citizens goes far beyond the imagination. Robert Walker is one pitiful Administrator. I know he's trying to get his last few years in with the highest salary for his retirement, but how does he sleep at night. Someone please point to at least one person in FM administration with some guts and morals. I'm still looking for one.

Author

maad

Date

2007-05-16T12:32:33-06:00

ID

92194

Comment

Interesting "pay your friends" strategy by the mayor, or whoever came up with it because I don't believe he did on his own. I used to have a lot of respect for Robert Walker. Now, I don't know what to think.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-16T12:59:11-06:00

ID

92195

Comment

It's what Jackson wanted. Let them suffer.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-05-16T13:41:11-06:00

ID

92196

Comment

Thanks again JFP for keeping us informed. Again, what would we do without you? As we all know, we will never hear about this gross, misuse of city funds from channels 3 and 12. That's because they want to keep the public blind and dumb to what Jackson's lunatic mayor is really doing. WAPT is the only TV news station that's not afraid to report the truth.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-05-16T14:13:57-06:00

ID

92197

Comment

WAPT is the only TV news station that's not afraid to report the truth. Which is why Frank has so much animosity towards them. All because they won't bend over for him.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-05-16T15:41:03-06:00

ID

92198

Comment

This just in from Adam: There are actually four assistant CAOs in the Melton administration. The fourth is Goldia Revies, formerly director of constituent services.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-05-16T15:49:42-06:00

ID

92199

Comment

This just in from Adam: There are actually four assistant CAOs in the Melton administration. The fourth is Goldia Revies, formerly director of constituent services. Brian, Revies was already mentioned in the story: “I have three,” Walker said, later identifying the assistant CAOs as Goldia Revies, Melvin and Valerie Nevels. Barrett-Simon admitted that she had not even known of Nevels’ position in the administration until today. Is that the name you meant to post?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-16T15:58:01-06:00

ID

92200

Comment

And it's not the first time that Goldia's work for Frank. Remember, she worked at WLBT for many years. I think she was there before Frank was.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-05-16T15:58:54-06:00

ID

92201

Comment

Excuse me, as the real news is much more interesting. The fourth CAO is Carolyn Redd, not Revies. Carolyn Redd is Melton's sister-in-law, who was Melton's de facto press secretary in his first year in office. She rarely returned calls, sent us press releases or informed us of press conferences. In other words, she was a very bad press secretary. I don't know what she is doing now, though she did handle the press at Monday's directors' meeting. That's worth $80,000, right?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-05-16T16:08:16-06:00

ID

92202

Comment

Giggle, snort. Can this theater get more absurd?!? Or, more costly? The sad answer is: Yes. It ain't over til it's over—but it will get more absurd and costly before it's over. Mark my words.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-16T16:56:23-06:00

ID

92203

Comment

maad wrote: " Robert Walker is one pitiful Administrator. I know he's trying to get his last few years in with the highest salary for his retirement, but how does he sleep at night. Someone please point to at least one person in FM administration with some guts and morals. I'm still looking for one." CAO Walker is a homeboy and old family friend. He and my uncle came up together in Vicksburg and are frat brothers. But I am so disappointed in his lockstep support of this administration. I know he is an intelligent man who as a former mayor knows better and should have more respect for government process. He's become like the "SOS Colin Powell" of this administration, and while I understand that he has to respect the mayor as his boss and treads a fine line between the mayor's directives and the council's scrutiny, but surely he can see that the mayor's actions are killing Jackson like a cancerous tumor, and he is only helping in that process.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-05-17T05:33:56-06:00

ID

92204

Comment

Interesting analogy, Lucas, comparing Walker to Powell. I wonder if Walker said to Melton, "I understand we've got to do something about crack houses, but have you ever heard of the Pottery Barn rule?"

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-05-17T08:35:35-06:00

ID

92205

Comment

you people are completely missing it. totally. all of it. Mr. Crisler should be asking Walker why such inexperienced people are being appointed and that the first thing that comes to mind is that its a great way to funnel business to your pals and cronies if you have someone in charge that doesn't know any better. Its all about money. While you people are focused on putting unqualified people in charge of departments and the money they are being paid you are missing the very real possibility of corruption occuring as money and contracts are given away in an unscrupulous manner.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-17T09:09:13-06:00

ID

92206

Comment

Mr. Crisler should be asking Walker why such inexperienced people are being appointed and that the first thing that comes to mind is that its a great way to funnel business to your pals and cronies if you have someone in charge that doesn't know any better. Its all about money. While you people are focused on putting unqualified people in charge of departments and the money they are being paid you are missing the very real possibility of corruption occuring as money and contracts are given away in an unscrupulous manner. Kingfish, I agree. You offer someone 80K to do whatever you say, and they sign off on everything under the sun to please Mr. Bossman. As a result, the city gets drained dry and all the cash lands in the sewer of corrupt rich guys. Man, that stinks literally and figuratively.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-17T09:22:45-06:00

ID

92207

Comment

kingfish, do you want a story or an editorial. You are probably correct; however, unless this is an editorial it would be wrong to 'infer' something in a news story. Or, that's what I see here. Everything Melton does is for the protection of his cronies while lining the pockets of certain companies and people. Now, sure Crisler could go there in the meetings. So could Ben and McLemore too. I'm ready for them to really start fussing at Melton and the other three stooges on the Council. I also want to see JDP provide police protection to Ms. Barrett and any other council member that request it. Things are not getting better between the mayor and the council, nor should they as long as he acts as if he is the law. That said, the A-1 Pallet action last night, the Mobile Command Unit showing up at a business burglary, and outlandish statements in the press (and letters) by Melton show that we are headed for a massive train wreck. Nothing is changing but the tax base. And not in a better kind of way.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-17T09:26:15-06:00

ID

92208

Comment

LW, not just that but if you are in charge of an agency or department and have alot of experience in the field, you are going to know what are you allowed to do by law. If you really don't know any better, you go ahead and do something you would not have done if you had known the law. These guys are going to get in serious trouble one day. The train wreck is coming.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-17T09:30:09-06:00

ID

92209

Comment

left off another point: If you are experienced, you can tell a mayor, no this won't work and here is why or we have to do it this way. Someone with no background can't or won't don't that.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-17T09:31:09-06:00

ID

92210

Comment

Will someone please post the job discriptions of the four "Administrators." Do they all do the same thing? How many people are working under them? Is there a chain-of command or do they decide on what is to done based on which side of the building the fire burning. What happened to Carolyn Redd's (franks sister-in-law), big business in Texas where she supposedly represented many of the great football players. According to bluntson, she wrote the commercial piece for Donnan McNabb for the Campbell Soup Company. This lie was researched and the claim was dropped. You know bluntson is such a slug. I do feel sorry for Mr. Tillman. He, in his aging position in life has fallen from grace and is being led by the uncaring. Someone needs to take him home and put some positive daily involvements into his life. He deserves more.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-17T09:38:03-06:00

ID

92211

Comment

Why don't Faye, McMillan, Allen, Simon, Crisler, et al get together, hold a press conference, and demand that Frank spell out what he means by corruption at the highest levels.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-17T09:42:34-06:00

ID

92212

Comment

Right. He gets in trouble and starts screaming corruption. But he has yet to provide a lick of evidence. I've asked for it, and it doesn't come. And I agree: Robert Walker is a major disappointment. The Colin Powell analogy is a good one.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-05-17T09:49:46-06:00

ID

92213

Comment

What happened to Carolyn Redd's (franks sister-in-law), big business in Texas where she supposedly represented many of the great football players. According to bluntson, she wrote the commercial piece for Donnan McNabb for the Campbell Soup Company. This lie was researched and the claim was dropped. You've got to be kidding me. I do feel sorry for Mr. Tillman. He, in his aging position in life has fallen from grace and is being led by the uncaring. Someone needs to take him home and put some positive daily involvements into his life. He deserves more. Yeah. He's just following the pack, and he may feel like he has no other alternative, but I don't know for sure.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-17T09:53:53-06:00

ID

92214

Comment

That said, the A-1 Pallet action last night, the Mobile Command Unit showing up at a business burglary, and outlandish statements in the press (and letters) by Melton show that we are headed for a massive train wreck. I saw the WAPT coverage of the surprise inspection. I'm sure that since the inspectors were turned away and the owners asked for an appointment, folks are assuming that they have something to hide. On the other hand, what does the law say about surprise inspections by the city? Is that legal?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-17T10:30:51-06:00

ID

92215

Comment

Can the City Council withhold the Administration's payroll and expenses from being paid? Can the Council refuse to fund the Mayor's office?

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-05-17T15:14:29-06:00

ID

92216

Comment

This sounds like a carbon copy of GW going into IRAQ with the bombs first and the inspection later. melton accused these people of "corruption of the worst kind." Trust me. He is making this crap up as he goes along. If he thought for one min. that there was corruption - all hell would have broken by now. He is a bully and wants the attention about the "real corruption" away from City Hall. This is where the bucks are stopped and never to be seen again. He told Mrs. Reeves that he did not want to see that building at the end of the year. So, who wants that property or to whom has it been promised. This man (fm), stays in the demolition mode mind set. He knows nothing about fix up/clean up or any type of renivations. Former Mayor Johnson wrote a grant that funded resurfacing and putting a new face on Westland Plaza. It looked like a phoenix coming up out of an oasis after completion. I also remember that you could go to some location in the City and pick up paint for clean up purposes. There were just so many good and respectible things going on and this city blew it. So, "SEND IN THE CLOWN....."

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-17T15:28:05-06:00

ID

92217

Comment

Do we not have someone in Public Works that can inform the public about our water? It seems Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (the third) Goldia Revies is the new expert in water quality. Do we have a public works director?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-17T17:11:02-06:00

ID

92218

Comment

Do we not have someone in Public Works that can inform the public about our water? It seems Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (the third) Goldia Revies is the new expert in water quality. Do we have a public works director? Guess they put Thelman Boyd on mute. I don't get it, and I really don't get this statement: The city of Jackson water has a taste and smell problem, but is otherwise normal to consume, officials say. It stinks and taste terrible, but it won't kill you. Thank God for bottled water! Just add fluoride, and we're on to something.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-17T18:52:32-06:00

ID

92219

Comment

Pickersam, this comment needs verifying; however, "all of the trained engineers for theCity of Jackson resigned." This information came from a City employee. Goldia Reeves should really be careful sticking her neck out with giving the public information that she does not know dip about. Why didn't she quote her source rather than give the appearance of an expert? Have these folks heard anything about personal liability. I've lived in Jackson for 30+ years and have never heard this rationale

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-18T08:10:56-06:00

ID

92220

Comment

water has tasted like dirt all week.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-18T08:12:14-06:00

ID

92221

Comment

Sorry Kingfish, our exper waterlady in City Hell says, "Drink Deep and taste not the Pierian Stream: For drinking but a little, makes us drunk;but, drinking largely, sobers us up again. PS: A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing. (LOL)!

Author

justjess

Date

2007-05-18T08:32:34-06:00

ID

92222

Comment

water has tasted like dirt all week. kingfish Should remind you of your beloved Baton Rouge and NO area! ;-p

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-18T08:42:29-06:00

ID

92223

Comment

um, no. tastes worse right now when usually the opposite is true.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-18T08:57:18-06:00

ID

92224

Comment

Sorry Kingfish, our exper waterlady in City Hell says, BWAAAAAAH! ROTFLOL! That made my day.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-18T11:05:50-06:00

ID

92225

Comment

Don't drink the "kool-aide". Where's Thelman Boyd? According to the city's pitiful website, the Director's position for the Water/Sewer division is vacant. This is scary. How long has the position been vacant? They are so busy promoting people to CAO at 80k/year, they can't even take the time to fill vital positions that affect the health and quality of Jacksonians.

Author

lanier77

Date

2007-05-18T11:36:09-06:00

ID

92226

Comment

It's happening in Ridgeland as well. I work in 220 Business Park, and our water tastes absolutely horrible. The coffee smells like sewer water.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-05-18T11:48:09-06:00

ID

92227

Comment

WAPT will be taking about the smelly water tonight.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-18T17:02:17-06:00

ID

92228

Comment

Justjess, when I moved back 7 years ago there were at least 5 licensed engineers in Public Works, and that was down from the 8 city engineers I knew back in the early 1990s. Most of those folks either retired and/or went into private practice. There are only 3 down there now as far as I know.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-05-19T06:22:22-06:00