LICENSE INSPECTOR TERMINATED, Jackson County Commission Meeting

The hot topic at this afternoon's County Commission meeting was the termination of the temporary Jackson County License Inspector, 25-year-old Bradley Tyler Smith of Higdon, the grandson of Commissioner Jack Smith. The younger Mr. Smith was hired  to fill the license inspector position on a temporary basis. The motion to agenda item -I- to terminate was placed forward by Commissioner Allen, Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. A long one sided dissertation singing praises about the license inspector emanated from Ms. Bias.

WAFF-TV was present to video the commission meeting. (When the video becomes available I will post within.) During the long dissertation Ms. Bias took the opportunity to "bad mouth" WAFF, Ch 48's accurate reporting of the situation. (previous WAFF link: of the story with video:  http://www.waff.com/story/16407093/jackson-co-may-have-full-time-license-inspector-with-criminal-record )


No one else commented except Commissioner Smith and a Smith family member about the issue. Chairperson Bias would not allow a request from another citizen to comment who did not agree with Ms. Bias's position. The vote on the issue was 3 votes to terminate, 1 vote no. The lone no vote came from Commissioner Jack Smith, the grandfather of the license inspector.  The license inspector was terminated.

Bradley Tyler Smith was present in this afternoons commission meeting (pictured above). The County Commission Chairperson Sadie Bias made a long speech about what a "good job" Mr. Smith had performed while in the license inspector position. However, she did not mention he had been charged with 2nd Degree Theft and 3rd Degree Robbery Criminal Case 2010-0544 and 0545 which involved drugs, the reason he is enrolled in the drug court. Mr. Smith has not completed the drug court program but was hired for this position by Chairperson Bias. Ms. Bias was aware of the pending disposition of Mr. Smith in Drug Court and his entry of a guilty plea to the charges against him, she went ahead and hired him knowing by his own admission he was a convicted felon and he had not completed the drug court program.

The License Inspector position requires a bond to be approved by the Governor of Alabama. Mr.Smith (former license inspector Smith) was not bonded until some time after his employment as a license inspector. The Governor had not approved the bond as required by state law. A license inspector in Alabama is a law enforcement position in regards to licensing and permitting of businesses, mobile homes and issues citations, initiates summons as a Sheriff  of an Alabama County would issue legal documents. Other counties require such inspectors to attend and successfully complete the Alabama Peace Officers Course.

Commission Chairperson Sadie Bias allowed Commissioner Jack Smith to make very negative and unsubstantiated allegations as a verbal attack pointed at Commissioner Jack Allen due to his request to place the issue of the Temporary License Inspector's termination on the agenda.

 Ms. Bias also allowed a female relative of the Smith's  to make unsubstantiated negative comments pointed at Commissioner Allen. The Chairperson refused to control the very negative allegations and the attacks being issued. Ms. Bias created an intimidating, threatening, hostile atmosphere of negativity.

Commissioner Jack Allen tolerated a structured attack pointed at him orchestrated by Chairperson Bias, Commissioner Smith and Smith family members. It was reported the attack was planned in the Chairperson's office prior to the commission meeting. Mr. Allen replied he had been informed by many Jackson County residents they did not support nor think it was proper that a felon, the grandson of a commissioner, was selected as the license inspector.

Since Ms. Bias allowed a citizen to speak concerning Commissioner Allen I asked to be allowed to speak. My request was: "Madame Chairperson since you are allowing comment from a citizen during this session I am requesting to speak on the issue." Ms. Bias replied, "I will not recognize you, you are out of order, you may not speak"

During last Thursday's work session I requested from Chairperson Bias a document which she provided to each member of the press, all members of the press present were female. I was the only male member of the press present. I informed Ms. Bias of my position concerning a member of the press as a blogger. Ms. Bias is aware of my blog site and its postings. She refused to produce the documents requested. Mr. Jack Allen produced the documents requested.

Taking into consideration Chairperson Bias's comments and actions today, and previous occasions,  in the decision making process during her term of office there is evidence the current Chairperson is creating a hostile work site climate which is discriminatory in nature, specifically pointed at males. During an early meeting with Ms. Bias, after her election, I was alone with her in her office. She said to me, "Ohh, you smell good," she hugged me and then said, "mmm." That was power assertion behavior, typical of those persons who practice sexual discrimination in positions of power. Power assertion conduct of males in a position of power is unacceptable pointed toward females and this discriminatory activity is likewise unacceptable conduct presented by females in positions of power directed at males.

Previous postings concerning the license inspector position on this blog:  http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/license%20inspector

Today's Commission Agenda

The other significant issue related to the License Inspector is item -C- on the agenda, the advertising of the license inspector position. It was pointed out by Mr. Clemmons that the advertising of jobs issue was decided in 2006 to advertise in and out of the county personnel system. However, the personnel policy was not updated related to the 2006 change.

This current commissioners changed the personnel policy, removing the recommended point system, early on during the current commission's term of office.

Commissioner Clemmons moved for -C- to be tabled, a second was received and it was tabled. 

"White Hat Leadership" saved the day yesterday and the commission did not realize it.

 More on "White Hat Leadership:" http://whitehatleadership.com/how-to-become-a-white-hat-leader/

Commissioner Clemmons' vote was correct yesterday. It saved further embarrassment to the citizens of Jackson County and corrected a wrongful action. This writer says thank you.

I have not agreed with many of Mr. Clemmons' political actions, but I have the utmost respect for his business sense and success along with his business leadership abilities.

UPDATE
January 10, 2011 WAFF-TV, Ch. 48 Video

WAFF Link:  http://www.waff.com/story/16491855/jackson-county-commision-votes-to-terminate-license-inspector

January 10, 2011,  The Daily Sentinel- http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_ad97e588-3be2-11e1-8cd6-001871e3ce6c.html "Smith Fired - Discussion got a little contentious during Monday's regular Jackson County Commission meeting over a motion to terminate the current county license inspector."

My thoughts concerning this latest update and the 6PM WAFF-TV, Ch 48  interview of Mr. Tyler Smith this evening.

Commission Chairperson Sadie Bias and Commissioner Jack Smith refuse to accept responsibility for their actions and error. Instead they take the course of blaming others. A very sad state of affairs.

Sadie Bias and Jack Smith, this mess is your fault, problems and wrongful actions you created concerning the license inspector. The three commissioners vote to terminate Mr. Tyler Smith's employment (Tyler Smith is the grandson of Commissioner Jack Smith) is correcting your wrongful actions.

To make matters worse, the former license inspector followed in the two errant commissioners steps today in an interview on the 6PM evening news on WAFF Ch 48. In the interview shown Mr. Tyler Smith placed blame on politics and the commissioners who terminated him. Saying in reference to Commissioner Clemmons, "he threw me under the bus."

Mr. Tyler Smith failed to take responsibility for his personal actions relating to the theft and robbery. An individual who wishes to make amends for his criminal acts must take responsibility for his actions. No where in the 6PM interview shown did Mr. Tyler Smith display any sign of remorse or an indication to make amends for his crimes. Today in the interview he blamed politics and other people for this current situation. Conveniently failing to mention that he is a convicted felon and that is the reason for his termination.