Police Committee Chairman Nathaniel Cullars and Washington Mayor Willie Burns presented a plaque to Police Chief Mike Davis, Henry Gene Norman, Johnny Crookham, and Jamie Bridges. The annual Mayfest block party was the main topic of contention at Monday night's regular May meeting of the Washington City Council, as Mayor Willie Burns spoke in support of the event but tried to prevent a council member from raising questions about the same subject.

When Rev. G.L. Avery stated that he wanted to discuss Mayfest, Mayor Burns said, "Point of order. Mayfest is over. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Avery insisted, and again Burns resisted. Again the veteran council member insisted, and after a few moments, Burns relented.

"When I came home Saturday evening," Avery said, "I was very surprised to see Whitehall Street blocked off at Hospital Drive. On Gordon Street, I saw cars parked on both sides and police at the end of the street. I called the mayor, and asked who authorized the closing of those streets, since the city council voted that there would be no street

closing." (In April, the council had voted to approve Avery's motion "not to allow Mayfest crowds in Whitehall's residential areas.")

He asked the mayor a series of questions, including, "When the city council decides, does the mayor have the authority to override that decision?" He also asked questions concerning the procedure for closing a state highway, and concerning the cost of the police coverage for Mayfest.

Avery requested that the questions be answered in writing. Mayor Burns directed City Attorney Barry Fleming and Washington Police Chief Mike Davis to answer the questions and have them published.

Shortly after, Mayor Burns read from a prepared statement. "As mayor of this city, and as an advocate of economic self-determination, I am strongly in favor of the event that has been labeled 'Mayfest.' City council members, in their April meeting, in effect endorsed one festival over another festival. These events are very similar, except for the fact that they're held in different areas of the city. Are we not sending the wrong signal? Are we not treating one segment of our community differently?"

He went on to say, "There has to be an effort to temper and reconcile our attitudes and prejudgemental philosophies and move this city forward. We do not operate in a vacuum. What we do here is noticed outside Washington, Georgia. The News-Reporter is read online all over the country and overseas."

He went on to defend Mayfest organizers. "Surely, if the organizers knew that there were problems with people being afraid to come out of their house, this issue could have been resolved. There was not any knowledge of this type of problem by the organizers."

Burns said that he was not elected because of promises to any one group, and he promised to work with the organizers of any group that came to Washington.

In other city business, Burns showed off the plaque he had been awarded at the National Conference of Black Mayors recently. The plaque honored Washington's participation in the "Buckle Up America" program to increase seat belt usage. Burns passed the credit on to the Washington Police Department, and presented the plaque to Chief Davis and Washington Police officers. The NHTSA would present a monetary award to the department soon, he said.

Bob Young, the Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) visited Washington Monday, Burns said, and he, the city attorney and the city administrator gave Young a tour of the city's development plan. "He was very supportive," Burns said. "He said whatever we need, to keep him abreast of our plans."

Mayor Burns also re-appointed Debbie Jackson to the Downtown Development Authority.

Other items of business included City Administrator Mike Eskew getting the council's approval to let a contract on running water and sewer to a building recently added to the city. The $139,000 cost would be covered later by a grant that has been requested, he said. The council approved awarding the contract to Barnett Southern Construction and BRW.

After a report from council member Anna Norman, the council also voted to allow the architect to submit for bids the design for the Pope Center remodeling.

Council member Pamela Eaton reminded the council and visitors that the DDA meeting was May 18 at 8:30 a.m. She also commented that she had recently seen what a valuable asset Gloria Wheatley was to the Animal Shelter when a problem animal was taken care of promptly.

City Attorney Barry Fleming reported that the governor had signed the budget, which included $25,000 for repairs to the Booker Center.

The council also approved the extension of a temporary housing permit as requested.

At the end of the regular meeting, the council went into executive session for real estate purposes. No action was taken as a result.