Henry Commission cancels meeting after failing to reach second quorum in a month

Henry County Commission Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell apologized to attendees of Tuesday's board meeting. No votes could be taken on business because of a lack of a quorum.

Henry County Commission Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell apologized to attendees of Tuesday's board meeting. No votes could be taken on business because of a lack of a quorum.

The Henry County Commission earlier this week cancelled its second meeting in a month because it could not reach a quorum.

Commission Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell called off Tuesday’s meeting after three of her colleagues -- Commissioners Dee Clemmons, Vivian Thomas and Bruce Holmes -- did not attend the gathering.

It was the second meeting in November where the trio of officials did not attend a regularly scheduled commission meeting. The other was Nov. 3.

It was not clear why the commissioners did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.

“I apologize for not being able to move forward, but we don’t have a quorum,” Harrell told those who attended the Tuesday meeting.

County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews said several items on Tuesday’s agenda will need to be addressed soon because of filing or contract deadlines. They include airport agreements, grant acceptance for the Henry County District Attorney’s Office and approval of dashcam equipment and laptops for recently ordered police cruisers.

“Any delay we have in ordering anything can screw us up in the end,” Henry Police Chief Mark Amerman told the board about delaying action on vehicle equipment. “We can have new beautiful cars and not have the computers and laptops we need to do our jobs in them.”

Matthews said she had also hoped the board would have taken action on pay raises and COVID-19 vaccination incentives for county workers during Tuesday’s meeting.

“It’s critical for us to retain our employees,” Matthews said of the salary increases.