Jackson Free Press

The City of Jackson needs to do whatever it takes to keep from being ruled and stagnated by rumors and lawsuits. And let's be honest, after the lawsuits filed against Mayor Tony Yarber and the administration, a lot of rumors are flying around.

Jackson City Council members are concerned about the potential of what more lawsuits could mean to the already-slim margins that the City's leaders have to work with in designing a budget for 2017. This comes during a daunting financial crisis in which the Yarber administration has been slow to provide vital information to the council.

How best to deal with these accusations? First, the City does not need to be speaking for the mayor, or even on his behalf in the current spate of lawsuits. The immediate statement the City released in response to the Kimberly V. Bracey sexual-harassment lawsuit was highly inappropriate and reactionary, and could make things worse for the City. We realize that Yarber's staff was under fire, but they must stop and think first.

The council announced early last week that it would retain separate, outside counsel and that Yarber would do the same. This keeps the City's interests separate from Yarber's efforts to defend.

Next, the city council needs to know immediately about every pending complaint and lawsuit that the City currently faces, and the administration must release this information to the public in as transparent a manner as possible, clearly addressing steps the administration can and should take to address problems that led to any valid claims. Operating outside the secrecy of executive sessions will encourage more confidence in the city's leaders, even if there is some discomfort in lifting the veil between the public and the administration.

The City also needs to address and remedy potential conflicts of interest. If the last few weeks has taught us anything, it is that several of our City's high-level administrators exist in a web of potential personal conflicts. Because of these, the City's senior litigator recused herself from three of the four recent discrimination lawsuits against the City. When any public servant is in a position where conflict prevents him or her from carrying out duties, that person must step aside, temporarily or not. Both the council and administration must demand it.

Jackson must come first, not preserving personal legacy or reputation at high cost to taxpayers. And no matter how these lawsuits turn out, they will now inevitably cost the City, whether in settlements, judgments or attorney's fees. If it is not possible for any city leader to ensure that his or her conduct or city policies do not expose the city to the potential for great and unforeseeable expenditures, then that person needs to step aside and let the City pick up the pieces and move on.

Instead of paying out settlements, the City needs to figure out a way to do away with furloughs, now entering their second year. Instead of claims, leaders must streamline the water-billing system. And if leaders want to hire and retain the best talent in the future, they must work to ensure that employees won't be harassed while serving the citizens of Jackson, and that departments are not hampered with personal drama and entanglements.
 We deserve at least that much.