Patty Alford, Executive Director of the Washington Parish Tourism Commission addresses the board during meeting.

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CARIE EDWARDS

CORRESPONDENT TO THE DAILY NEWS

Mayor Darwin Sharp called the Franklinton Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting to order on Tuesday, July 8, with a stated focus on order, transparency, and community engagement. The meeting addressed key issues ranging from public decorum to tourism funding and local business permits.

The meeting began with the formal reading of the town’s newly adopted Public Speaking Decorum Rules. These guidelines were established in response to recent meeting disruptions and are intended to foster respectful and constructive civic dialogue. The rules emphasize speaking respectfully and concisely, addressing the council or board as a whole, not interrupting others, staying on topic, clearly identifying oneself before speaking, adhering to a 3-minute time limit, avoiding personal attacks, and refraining from using offensive language. The presiding officer, typically the mayor, holds the authority to enforce these rules and manage any disruptive behavior. During the meeting, the rules were put to the test when one attendee was removed after the new protocol. Aldermen expressed concern about certain aspects of the rules, prompting further discussion both the rules of order and the public’s right to participate.

Patty Alford, Executive Director of the Washington Parish Tourism Commission, addressed the recent controversy surrounding an $11,000 donation intended to support the Washington Parish Watermelon Festival fireworks. The board voted in June to return the funds. Alford clarified that the donation was for the Town of Franklinton, not directly for festival organizers, and the Tourism Commission merely facilitated the transaction. Following her explanation, the Board unanimously rescinded its earlier vote and accepted the funds. Alford also expressed her view that recent unspecified media coverage may have harmed tourism promotion efforts. “As the director for tourism, things that are happening within the city council and within the parish, it’s made my job one of the hardest in the parish to go across the country and state and encourage people to come to our town and our parish to see what we have to offer,” Alford stated.

The Board also approved four alcohol permits during the meeting for Jack Brown’s Food Store, Akita Sushi, Dollar General #6110, and Dollar General #1283.