Fireworks popped at the Caddo Commission work session yesterday.
Caddo Commission president Stormy Gage-Watts called a Point of Order to interrupt Caddo Commissioner John Atkins when he was asking questions of the Administration.
A Point of Order is a formal way to call attention to a potential breach of parliamentary procedure. In effect the point of order requires the chair or a member to abide by the rules of the body.
In this instant Gage-Watts interrupted Atkins with her Point of Order. Atkins’ comments were clearly within the bounds of the Rules and Bylaws of the Commission which allow communiques by Commissioners. Seemingly there was NO basis under the Commission Rules and Bylaws nor Robert's Rules of Order for Gage-Watts actions. (Mistake No. 1 by Gage-Watts)
Commissioner Grace Ann Blake then raised a Point of Order directed to the interruption by Gage-Watts of Atkins. There was merit for Blake’s Point of Order. At this time Gage-Watts resorted to shouting at Blake and would not let her state her point of order. (Mistake No. 2 by Gage-Watts.)
Gage-Watts then threatened Blake saying she would have her removed from the horseshoe if she continued to talk. Article IV, Rule 6, provides that the President may call a commissioner out of order if they violate the Commission Rules/Bylaws. It is only AFTER a commissioner has been called out of order may the President then instruct that person to leave the meeting. Gage-Watts did NOT call Blake out of order before threatening to have her removed. (Mistake No. 3 by Gage-Watts.)
To add to the comedy of errors—actually it was a tragedy of errors-- was the totally illegal and unauthorized action of parliamentarian Commissioner Victor Thomas who turned off the microphone of Blake after the Gage-Watts/Blake verbal exchange. Thomas is frequently heavy-handed in his parliamentary rulings against the Republican commissioners. There is no authority in the Commission Rules and Bylaws nor Robert's Rules of Authority for anyone, much less the parliamentarian, to turn off the microphone of a fellow Commissioner.
The rulings and actions of Gage-Watts were questionable at best. It follows her practice of being very biased against issues/questions from the Republican commissioners. How Thomas can explain/justify his action is a story yet to be told. Seemingly he committed an ethical violation if not a criminal act.