In a heated discussion during Monday nights Leesburg Town Hall Meeting, resident Greg Lumpkin approached the council on the topic of the Trash Nuisance Committee. “Why would you appoint somebody to the council to draft a abatement ordinance to present to the council, if they were against it from the beginning? To me that doesn’t sound like that would be the logical thing to do.” Lumpkin asked. Leesburg Mayor Brandy Pierce then asked Lumpkin, “Who drafted it?”, in which Lumpkin had to restate his statement to the council and those in the meeting, “Our mayor appointed some members to the committee to draft an abatement ordinance.” “No I didn’t.” Mayor Pierce said. “My attorney drafts the ordinance, I do not. We haven’t even gotten that far because ya’ll can’t get along on nothing.”
In a back and forth conversation, Lumpkin stated that from the beginning, there was a vote taken before they even discussed what kind of ordinance they would have, to see if the members of the committee even wanted an ordinance. The vote was 3-2 against having an ordinance. “So what are you insinuating, let me ask that.” Mayor Pierce said. “I’m not insinuating anything, I’m just saying If you’re going to appoint somebody to a committee to draft an ordinance, you would think you would want someone on that committee that would be in favor of it.” Lumpkin stated.
Councilman Joe Sonaty spoke up in the discussion, highlighting different members on the committee, and how their voice deserves to be heard, whether they are against it or not. He stated how one member owns over $1 million in land in Leesburg, and another gentleman has lived in a big city and knows ordinances and how they affect people, which is why he volunteered to be on the committee. “The other three people on the committee from Embos Island all sat here in our meeting and volunteered to be on the committee. So the Mayor actually went by what the people were asking and by what the people were requesting and volunteering for.”
Mayor Pierce then asked if Lumpkin was insinuating that he had stacked the vote to make it work. “That’s your opinion, sir.” was Lumpkin’s reply.
A gentleman on the committee also spoke up by making an observation, “I have been on a couple of committee’s in my life. I have never been on a committee where the proponent for the ordinance was allowed on the committee. That’s all I’m going to say.”
A public hearing was set for June 14th on this matter, but the town council voted to seek legal guidance first and tabled the topic to next month’s meeting.