In a meeting that lasted over 4 hours and included a lot of heated discussions, especially between the mayor and city attorney, the McComb Board of Mayor and Selectmen discussed former acting police chief Mark Anderson’s fate with the city, and borrowing a million dollars to pay bills.

Anderson’s attorney, Dennis Sweet of Jackson, addressed the board, making it clear that he wants to avoid litigation. He said that Anderson never resigned and that the board has an opportunity to “make it right by him.” Sweet said that he would sue the city if necessary. Anderson was a police officer for 22 years in McComb. After Mayor Zach Patterson suspended and eventually fired acting police chief Greg Martin last year, he named Anderson as the new acting chief.

After a court battle about the suspension resulted in a judge ordering the reinstatement of Martin to the position, the board voted to restore Martin. Anderson was caught in political crosshairs and eventually filed a lawsuit against the city. He talked to a city employee about retiring. However, he informed Mayor Patterson that he would stay on the job and Patterson reported that Anderson, who had taken a leave of absence, would be returing to work. He returned to work on September 16th and worked a full 12-hour shift. Martin had him arrested when he returned the car to the police station. Sweet defended him at his hearing on charges of joy riding and impersonating an officer. The case was remanded by the judge to the file.

The board voted unanimously to have city attorney Wayne Dowdy meet with Sweet to discuss resolving Anderson’s status, that is, if he will be allowed to return to the police force at his current service level or if he must re-apply with the Civil Service Commission and start all over again.

“We brought the request to enter negotiations,” Sweet said. “We can go fight legal battles, and you know we will. But I believe we need to find a resolution short of that.” Sweet requested the board move swiftly on the issue. Anderson “can’t just stand around,” Sweet said.

“There has to be a decision.” Patterson added that he had spoke to the board previously and asked something to be done for Anderson, suggesting that the board attempt to avoid litigation.

During the first hour of the board meeting, Patterson and Dowdy had several arguments over the minutes of the Dec. 22nd board board meeting and executive session, and Jan. 4th special called meeting.

The board voted 4-2 to borrow $1 million against anticipated property tax revenues as a short-term solution for the city’s financial problems. The money must be repaid by March 15. Selectmen Melvin Joe Johnson and Robert Earl Smith voted against the measure.

The board unanimously voted to table an earlier agenda item to determine the best course of action to handle the city’s projected $1 million shortfall. Those options include reducing pay by 20 percent across the board by instituting a 32-hour work week, cutting city payroll 10 percent or laying off at least 30 city employees.

Smith asked the mayor if he believed that the city should or shouldn’t borrow the funds. Patterson said he could not get involved because he did not have the authority. He was referring to action taken last year by four selectmen to amend city ordinances on mayoral power, stripping Patterson of his authoirity.

Patterson warned the board that the city could face this same predicament after the loan is repaid in two months. “If long-term fixes aren’t in place, we’re looking at another catastrophe. At the end of the day, you’re going to have some tough decisions.”