Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. Monday withdrew his proposed amendments to the city charter after a work session of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on the city charter broke into name-calling and ended with North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield walking out of the meeting in a huff before it adjourned.

“As of right now, I am removing any proposed idea for a charter change in the city,” Flaggs said. “The only way you’re going to get a charter change for this city is if these two gentlemen (Mayfield and South Ward Alderman Willis Thompson) aren’t opposed to me. I am clear. It don’t take no rocket scientist to know that’s two against one. These gentlemen are against my proposal … I’m taking it off the table.”

Mayfield and Thompson oppose Flaggs’ most controversial provision of the amendments that would allow him to appoint the fire and police chiefs, city attorney, city clerk and finance director. Flaggs said he wants the authority to make the appointments to have more authority and accountability and day-to-day supervision over the departments.

“It’s not about power and authority,” Mayfield said during the meeting. “If you change the charter, you have literally changed the government.

“But you can’t get caught up on the fact that ‘I feel that because (former Sen.) Trent Lott and (Sen.) Thad Cochran are my best friends, (State Rep.) Phillip Gunn is my best friend and (Gov.) Phil Bryant is my best friend and I should have all this authority because those are my best friends.’ It doesn’t work like that,” Mayfield said. “You were hired by the people of Vicksburg to do a job. And we were hired, too. We have done tremendous things.”

“It’s clear to me that every governor, every president, every mayor, has an administration,” Flaggs said near the end of the meeting.

“When you lock in people, you lock in complacency. I didn’t say change all the people. … I don’t see how any mayor can carry out the agenda of his vision for the city if he has to use the same people (from the previous administration).”

Immediately after his comments, Flaggs announced he was naming a committee to study a Central Mississippi Planning and Development District study on the fire department and in the future would name other committees to study city issues “because I am not going to be personalized, demonized or called out for trying take this city to another level in 2015.”

Mayfield asked Flaggs if he was claiming he and Thompson “are not 100 percent for moving this city forward just because we won’t allow you to have your way as you please?”

When Flaggs refused to answer, Mayfield told the seven people attending the meeting “I’m not going to sit here, people, and allow this man to do what he’s doing. Mayor Flaggs has more power and authority than any mayor in the State of Mississippi. All he has to do is come in here daily and work with me and Alderman Thompson.

“We have proven many times beyond a shadow of a doubt that we have bent over backwards to work with Brother Flaggs,” Mayfield said.

“But to come in here and tell us ‘I want the authority to do as I please; the power to do as I please. I’m going to appoint whoever I choose to appoint, I don’t give a damn what you think.’ That is wrong.”

Mayfield challenged Flaggs to show where he and Thompson has not supported him, adding, “You’re power hungry, yes, you are. That’s a fact.”

Mayfield and Thompson on July 10, 2013 refused to consider Flaggs’ nominees for police and fire chief, reappointing Police Chief Walter Armstrong and Fire Chief Charles Atkins.

“I’m through with this man,” Mayfield said Monday, and stormed out of the boardroom.

The work session was open to the public and broadcast over TV23, the city’s public access channel. Some of the residents attending the meeting thought they would be able to comment on the charter amendments.

“I’ve wasted my time,” said Tommie Rawlings. “I thought we were going to be able to address our concerns. I only hope if they put this to a vote they educate the people on what they’re voting on.”

Flaggs announced his plans to amend the city’s 142-year-old charter May 9, and presented his proposed amendments to Mayfield and Thompson in a 15-page May 21 letter.

Although the aldermen said later they wanted to review the amendments, they opposed Flagg’s proposal to split the department head appointments.

Under his plan, Flaggs would have the authority to appoint the city attorney, city clerk, finance and administration head, police chief and fire chief, upon the approval of the board.

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. All appointments must be approved by the board.

Flaggs said Monday he was the only Vicksburg mayor whose nominees for police and fire chief had not been appointed.

He said his reasons for amending the charter included giving the mayor some additional responsibility and authority, and to give the aldermen some specific duties and responsibilities.

“My reason for changing the charter is because of the fact that I think for 2015 we ought to be more accountable, the city ought to be more efficient,” he said. “I don’t want power, I just want the authority so that if I’m running citywide, when you call me about something, I can explain it to you.”

He said many of the city’s department heads and supervisors are approaching retirement.

“If we don’t make the tough decisions now, how we make the administration go forward, then I think in the future you’re going to have a train wreck, and if you want to see government disfunctional, I think you’ll have that opportunity,” Flaggs said. “That’s what I’m trying to avoid.”

“I don’t believe that Mayor Flaggs can say anytime, anywhere, anyplace, that he has brought anything to this table that is good for the city of Vicksburg that Alderman Thompson and I haven’t supported him,” Mayfield said.

He said for the past two years he and Thompson “had to deal with ‘I want to change the charter. I want change the SOG (system of government), I want to change the operating guide, I want to change the department heads. If it’s working, why mess with it?”

Flaggs said he was willing to back off the amendments if they would cause problems on the board. “The city is bigger than me,” he said.

Thompson said he planned to respond to Flaggs’ proposals, but did not give a date when.

“I’m not opposed to change,” Thompson said. “I believe if you always do what you ‘ve always done, you only have what you’ve already got. If want something different, you’ve got to do something different. I’m not against change if it’s for the right reason.”

He said the charter points out the board makes the appointments, adding the board could decide to let the mayor or the aldermen make appointments with the support of the other two members. He said he did not want to take away future boards’ authority to have a voice in how the city is run.

When Flaggs presented his proposal, Thompson said, he looked at other city charters and the duties of mayor, but did not specify provisions from any other city charter.

“Sometimes, you need to consider things, even if you don’t agree with them,” he said. “Just give it a chance. Give it active thought before you comment on it for the city.”