West Point”s interim electric department superintendent was stripped of his title Tuesday night.
The West Point Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to accept a recommendation from Chief Administrative Officer and Electric Department Manager Randy Jones that Shasta Plunkett”s job responsibilities become subject to Jones” discretion.
The city is advertising for an electric department superintendent, but Plunkett”s application is the only one the city has received, Jones has said.
Jones was not present at Tuesday”s meeting and submitted his recommendation through correspondence. Officials at City Hall said he is on vacation. Calls to Jones” city cell phone were not returned.
Ward 3 Selectman Charles Collins said Jones” recommendation was in response to problems at the electric department, but wouldn”t elaborate on the nature of the problem.
Plunkett was fired by the board in March during a special called meeting. Mayor Scott Ross quickly vetoed the firing and deemed the meeting illegal, claiming he had not been provided proper notice of the meeting.
The cause for the special meeting to fire Plunkett has not been disclosed by the selectmen, but Plunkett has been at odds with several board members. He is one of several employees with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints pending against the city.
In his EEOC complaint, Plunkett accuses several selectmen of failing to pay their utility bills and attempting to coerce special treatment for friends and associates.
A large group of citizens also addressed the board Tuesday night complaining of practices at the electric department.
Also included in Jones” recommendation, possibly as a preemptive response to the citizens” complaints, were several changes in department policy, including altering the billing and meter-reading cycles to avoid disconnecting delinquent customers at the end of the month. Other changes were recommended regarding deposits and accepting credit card payments.
In other business, Mississippi District Attorney Forrest Allgood appeared before the board to ask for their support of a Golden Triangle Task Force to solve cold cases.
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