Warren County Board of Supervisor William Banks believes Margaret Gilmer is overstepping her authority as Warren County Port Commission president and wants to remove her from the commission.

“I think she’s doing a little bit beyond her call of duty,” Banks said Tuesday. “She’s doing more than she should, and she’s not following up, and she’s not staying in touch with the supervisors, and making decisions on her own.

“(She’s) making plans and doing things for the port without consulting the board.” Banks continued.

“It’s nothing in particular; just general. I’d like to leave it like that.”

Banks first mentioned he wanted to have a port commissioner removed during Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. On Tuesday, during an interview with The Post, he said the commissioner he wanted removed was Gilmer.

During his comments at Monday’s meeting and during the interview Tuesday, Banks failed to provide any examples of the accusations he levied against Gilmer.

Gilmer, who was appointed to the port commission in 2015, is one of the county’s two appointments to the commission.

Two commissioners are appointed by the city of Vicksburg and the governor appoints one member.

Gilmer said Banks’ comments on wanting to remove her from the commission were the first she’s heard of any problems with the board.

“If the supervisors have a problem, I thought they would have come to me about it,” she said. “The commission has given me full authority to do the things I’ve done for the port.”

During Monday’s meeting, Banks asked board attorney Blake Teller to research the state law about commission appointments, to see if there is a way to remove a commissioner.

County administrator John Smith said the law is clear.

Smith said in 2012, the board of supervisors voted to remove a port commissioner and a county bridge commissioner. Later, then-board attorney Marcie Southerland said the supervisors had to reinstate those individuals after learning the law did not allow the board to remove them.

The only way a commissioner can be removed, Smith said, is by death or if they are convicted of a felony crime and sentenced to jail.

Banks said there were no problems after Gilmer was named to the commission in 2015, but some things, he said, “have changed, and she’s moving on her own and not advising the board as she goes along.”

“It’s something I think we need to do,” Banks said, adding he did not have a replacement in mind.

Board president Richard George said supervisors have been told by other sources about some activities involving the port and commission “that we would have thought we would have heard from the port commission first.”

While the lack of information is a concern, he said, Gilmer is starting her second year on the commission “and sometimes it apparently takes longer for others to adjust.”

“There is an issue about people inquiring from the board of supervisors about particular issues (with the port) and we have no knowledge the matter had taken place, so that is a concern,” George said. “It can be repaired rather easily, but there is some room for improvement.”

George, like Banks, did not provide details on specific issues, but said, “anytime you’re dealing with public money, you’re responsible for it (and) communication is very important. Anything that’s got to do with the public business — that’s a result of the public’s funds being involved, (and) we need to be particular how we conduct that business.”

George said neither he nor the board have talked with Gilmer since December, when she updated the board on the search for a new port director, adding he hopes a new meeting would be held soon.

Presently, he said, the board has no plans to meet with Gilmer or the commission.

“The port commission has their duties and responsibilities they are well aware of,” George said.

“And as they make their deliberations and decisions, providing pertinent information would have to come from them to us, because in any number of cases, they’re contacted about it and not us, initially.”

Gilmer said if supervisors have any questions about actions she has taken, they need to talk to her and other port commissioners.

“I haven’t done anything the commission hasn’t given me the authority to do,” Gilmer said. “The board has neglected the situation at the port, and they bear some of the responsibility for what has happened.”