NATCHEZ — The Natchez Board of Aldermen unanimously voted Tuesday to appoint a current tourism official as interim director of the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The board voted to ask Tricentennial Director Jennifer Ogden Combs to fill the post no longer than until the current fiscal year ends Sept. 30. The board voted last week to terminate director Kevin Kirby following a few months of ongoing personnel issues and a financial investigation into the CVB.

Mayor Butch Brown made the recommendation to hire Combs, and Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis suggested the appointment be made on an interim basis.

That would give the city’s next administration, which will take office July 1 following the upcoming election, an opportunity to hire the next director, Arceneaux-Mathis said.

Combs, who is currently employed as the city’s tricentennial director, was not at the meeting because she is out of the country. Contacted Tuesday afternoon, Combs said she is willing to accept the appointment if the details are worked out. Combs said she hopes her office can help during the transition in CVB leadership.

“With everything going on (and) the tricentennial in full swing … it is important that we not lose the positive ground we’ve gained this year, even as the CVB is being reorganized,” Combs said.

During the meeting, the board voted to extend resolutions of appreciation to the former Natchez Convention Promotion Commission members, who the aldermen voted to ask to resign last week as well. The resolutions were in appreciation of the commissioners’ service and proposed by Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith.

Smith raised the issue of appointing a new commission Tuesday during her official report, noting that “a lot” of the residents in attendance at the nearly full city council chambers were there for that reason.

Prior to that, Hampton Inn manager Patricia Lozon with The Natchez Hotel, B&B and Dining Group — which describes itself as a “private, invitation-only” collaborative — presented the aldermen with its annual report which called for several commitments from the aldermen, including transparency in the NCPC appointment process.

Brown seemingly tried to stop Lozon’s report, which he said was being made under the guise of a “tourism update” that was listed on the agenda.

“I think it’s inappropriate under the pretense of giving a report, and now to make a pitch for action … (from the board of aldermen),” Brown said.

Brown asked Lozon how long the group had been active, to which she responded “a long time.”

He asked again and also asked for previous annual reports from the group. Lozon attempted to say that the group had presented the same report to the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce’s tourism advisory council.

Brown mistook that to mean the group was an arm of the chamber.

Local businesswoman and Ward 1 alderwoman candidate René Adams stood to offer clarification, but was told by Brown she had not been recognized.

“You are a candidate,” he said. “You have to be very careful about what you say in this forum.”

Chamber President Debbie Hudson explained the group was not a part of the chamber and simply provided its report to the chamber’s tourism council at the council’s Monday meeting.

As Brown was seemingly attempting to shut down Lozon’s report, Smith and Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery said they thought Lozon should be permitted to continue her report. Fortenbery made a motion as such, which Brown said was not appropriate, but the motion passed and Lozon continued.

Following Lozon’s report, Brown moved directly into the next item on the agenda with no discussion opened about the group’s report.

Brown had said he planned to present a list of nominees to NCPC at Tuesday’s meeting, but at Smith’s suggestion, the board agreed to take applications for the positions and make a decision at a later date. No nominees were named at Tuesday’s meeting.

From the audience, Lozon and other members of the audience called for a public hearing regarding the appointments.

Smith said she thinks the candidates should be interviewed, and the aldermen should meet with them to discuss the roles of the appointment.

“Well, that’s your opinion,” Brown said, cutting Smith off by asking if her report was finished.

Smith called Brown out for being “very rude” and proceeded to finish her report.

Smith said after the meeting the NCPC candidates could possibly be introduced the community at some type of public forum.

The aldermen, Smith said, would also need to decide if the appointments would be made an interim basis such as the CVB director’s appointment.

Anyone interested in serving on the NCPC should drop off a cover letter and resumé at City Hall by the end of the business day Friday.

In other news:

-The board voted to authorize City Attorney Hyde Carby to contact New Orleans Hotel Consultants President Warren Reuther to ask Reuther if he would be willing to allow the city to put out a request for proposals detailing plans to lease the railroad depot on Broadway Street.

The board approved leasing the depot to a company owned by Reuther, who has said he plans to turn the depot into a visitor center.

The city has come under fire for the perceived lack of transparency in the dealings for the depot. Resident Gwen Ball sued the city over the agreement, alleging the city failed to follow legal procedure in the lease. The lawsuit was recently dismissed.

Smith raised the depot issue at the meeting and said “for the sake of transparency,” the city should at least ask Reuther if an RFP would be possible.

Brown asked Smith if she knew anyone willing to bid on the property.

Local author Greg Iles, who was seated in the audience, raised his hand and said, “I’ll bid.”

Brown told the board the city could not simply “jerk back” a contract. Arceneaux-Mathis asked Carby to look into the legality of the RFP since the agreement was already in place.

Reuther was not at the meeting, but said Tuesday afternoon he supports the city asking for bids for the depot.

Reuther emphasized that he was approached about the project and did not seek it out.

Reuther said he was also told multiple people were interested in bidding and offered his phone number to discuss the matter, but has not been contacted.

Regardless, Reuther said, he supports the bid process and said he thinks it will ensure the best development of the depot. Reuther said he is also willing to take on a partner for the project.

“If somebody has a better idea than me or something I haven’t thought of, why wouldn’t I want that?” he said.

Iles said after the meeting he was very glad to hear the city would be putting out an RFP for the depot.

“The more bidders there are, the higher return the City of Natchez is likely to get,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in that property, and I now have some experience with restoration. I’d love to see the depot become the social hub of the bluff and benefit all the people of Natchez as well the person leasing it, even if that person turns out to be me.”