The discussion whether to change the city of Vicksburg’s 142-year-old charter, and with it the way the city’s leadership is structured, will continue Monday when the Board of Mayor and Aldermen open up their next work session to comments from the public.

Work sessions are considered public meetings under the state’s Open Meetings Act. The board customarily holds its work sessions, which are planning meetings where no official action is taken, in Mayor George Flaggs Jr.’s office.

Flaggs, however, changed the venue of the meeting to the board’s meeting room at the City Hall Annex after North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield suggested it meet on the charter. The suggestion came during a discussion on changing the charter before the board’s meeting began Monday.

Flaggs said the charter will be the first agenda item for the June 8 meeting, which starts at 9 a.m.

“Everybody that’s for or against, come in and let’s put the hay where the cow can eat it,” Flaggs said.

He said after the meeting he hoped people opposed to the changes will attend the meeting, “so I’ll have an opportunity to explain it to them and answer their questions in front of Michael and (South Ward Alderman) Willis (Thompson).”

On May 21, Flaggs sent Mayfield and Thompson a 15-page letter outlining proposed amendments to the charter, including a plan to split the appointment of department heads between him and the aldermen — a move he said would improve efficiency and accountability.

The plan would give Flaggs authority to appoint the city attorney, city clerk, finance and administration head, police chief and fire chief.

The North Ward alderman would be responsible for appointing the public works director and community development director, while the South Ward alderman would take the parks and recreation director, human resources director and information technology head.

It’s a plan the aldermen have said several times they oppose. Thompson said Thursday he was preparing a response to Flaggs’ proposals.

Monday, Flaggs called on the aldermen to be prepared to make a decision on whether to amend the document.

“I think this board ought to vote up or down some recommendations so I can at least know what I’m working with,” he said. “What I’m telling you, in addition to the $1.5 million I believe we can save, it’s absolutely necessary that in 2015 we amend the charter and be certain to look at the responsibilities of the mayor’s office, (and) the aldermen’s offices. There’s too much duplication; there’s too much inefficiency.

“I know this city can operate more efficiently. I simply want to put some authority in these positions and some accountability in these positions, so that who ever serves in the future will know exactly what their responsibilities are and the people they serve will know exactly who’s responsible for what.”

Thompson agreed with improving efficiency, but added, “I think some things work, and some things I think we night need to look at, but at the same time, I think it’s time to hear more than one perspective.

“It think we need to let the taxpayers choose the path they want,” he said. “I think it should be in the hands of the taxpayers. If it can’t be in their hands, then it’s not much of a democracy. That’s my position. I don’t think the government should be chosen by us. We should work with the people who put us in office. Working within a system the people have told you they want. If they want to change it, let them change it.”

Mayfield said he agreed with some items in Flaggs’ proposal, but opposed others.

“I don’t know why you feel all this needs to be changed,” Mayfield said. “You’ve given several different reasons and I know where you’re coming from, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with you. This is the first board I’ve been on out of six different boards that votes together 95 percent of the time. How can you say it’s not working? I don’t understand … we’re getting things done. We’re in agreement on what’s good for the city, but for some reason, you don’t feel that’s good enough.”