End of meeting devolves into a dust-up over communication

A Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors meeting ended chaotically Tuesday, with officials attempting to shout one another down as the board hastily voted to adjourn.

Ward 2 Director Laney Harris used the citizens' communication time at the end of the meeting to read a statement railing against City Manager Kenny Haskin for sending him a text message on the weekend despite his previously telling Haskin not to do so.

As Harris' topic became clear, Haskin objected to Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell as Harris continued to read the statement aloud.

"This cannot be read in a session like this. If he's got a problem with me, this should be in executive session," Haskin said.

"We're going to stop this right now," Penney-Bell said.

The board quickly adjourned the meeting on a roll-call vote, shouting over Harris to be heard, and Harris finished reading his complaint as the mayor and other directors stood to leave.

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