A public hearing and special meeting were called by Leeds City Council last Thursday.

The meeting was held to remove and replace a member of the City of Leeds Planning and Zoning Board (PZB). The city attorney said the meeting was held for fact finding and not to serve as a question and answer session for public discussion.

During a December council meeting, Mayor David Miller asked the PZB to review draft four of the PCD Zoning District and Overlay plan and provide recommendations for revising the plan within 30 days.  

At that point the board had already completed up to seven drafts of the plan.

Isom told Miller that 30 days was not enough time due to board review specifications and the need for two weeks notification for a public PZB meeting.

Mayor David Miller said PZB Chairman Brett Isom was “neglectful, non-compliant and inefficient.”

Miller also cited Isom as not being able to control PZB meetings or move forward with the agenda.

Miller told Isom serving as PZB Chairman was a conflict of interest due to the fact that Isom is also an employee of the Regional Planning Commission.

“I have served on the Leeds Planning and Zoning Board for the last five years,” Isom said.  “Over that time I have tried to ensure the use of practical planning practices and reasoned recommendations to improve the quality of life for those, like myself, who call Leeds home.”

City attorney John Brunson with Massey, Stotser & Nichols, P.C. recommended the council make a motion to remove Isom due to inefficiency in office and neglect of duty.

District 3 councilman Johnny Dutton made the motion with District 5 councilwoman DeVoris Ragland seconding said motion.

District 1 council member Kenneth Washington as well as District 4 councilman Craig Wadsworth weren’t in attendance.

District 2 representative Eric Turner along with Miller, Dutton and Ragland unanimously voted Isom out without discussion.

With Miller making the mayoral replacement recommendation, he named Ken Mudd, the city’s election official, to fill the vacated seat.

“As to the hasty proceedings leading to my exit from the board, I do not agree with the manner to which it was conducted and reject all claims made against me,” Isom said.  “I received no notification regarding any issue, and I was afforded no opportunity to discuss or refute any stated concerns. It is my sincere belief that the reasons stated for my dismissal were contrived solely for the purpose of allowing the administration to place someone of their own choosing on the board, and nothing more than that. It is regrettable that the mayor has never made any effort to meet with the board or respond to any attempts on my part for communication. Perhaps he will be more interested once all the seats on the city’s independent boards are replaced with his own appointments.”

Before the meeting was adjourned, concerned citizen Joanne Boyd wanted to be on the record objecting to Isom’s dismissal.

Miller told her the objection was not official.

Voicing her objection outside the meeting, Boyd said the PZB is supposed to be an independent board and that Isom held four meetings in January after the December 7 request and was working very hard in this unpaid volunteer position.

“Statute requires, before you remove somebody from the zoning commission, that you have a public hearing,” said Boyd. “I do not think a public hearing is a hearing for which there’s been less than 48 hours notice and no notice (at all) given to the person being accused.”

Isom thanked those who tried defending him during Thursday’s meeting.

“To those who were willing to step up to my defense and advocate managed growth, I thank you and appreciate your support.”

He also extended his gratitude to past and present PZB members.

“Thank you for all the time and energy spent in an effort to improve the community you love, all the while contending with the ever changing political winds.”

The PZB meets tonight at 6 p.m. at Leeds Civic Center.

A public hearing and Leeds City Council meeting is set for Monday, February 18 at 6 p.m. also at the civic center, located at 1000 Park Drive.