NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – Email exchanges between council members Rick Prill, Barbara Best and Hazel Royal have emerged that show a different reason they have skipped board meetings.

His absence has led to a stalemate in trying to elect someone to fill the empty District 6 Councilman seat and to new motions for New Bern.

Seeing the divide in choosing former Mayor Dana Outlaw or former Editor Trevor Dunnell to represent District 6 and council members not attending three straight board meetings raised some questions for former Councilwoman Jameesha Harris.

She says she made a Freedom of Information Act request and was shocked when she read some of the email exchanges between Alderman Prill and Alderman Royal.

“The email basically states what appears to be a suggestion as a one-time option that if she doesn’t show up it would allow there to be no vote so Dana can be voted on because they won’t have a quorum. ”says Harris.

Other emails show Prill, Best and Royal discussing which candidates they would like for the position.

New Bern Mayor Jeffrey Odham says he is frustrated that council members called minutes before meetings were to begin and statements made in emails contradict what council members said when confronted at the board meeting about their absences. after October 22.

“The mere fact that they waited minutes before to call and say they weren’t going to be here is just disrespectful,” Odham says. “Not only to our staff but also to the citizens of the city of New Bern.”

Councilwoman Barbara Best and Hazel Royal issued a statement regarding the email exchanges:

“I cast my vote for Darlene Brown and I stand by my vote as mayor. Odham, Councilman Aster and Councilman Kinsey remain steadfast in their vote for Dana Outlaw…I will not be a part of anything that is planned by other members of the BOA, which I know is not right!” says Best. .

“Every voice has the right to be heard and every voice has value,” Royal says.

The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 and will be open to the public.

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