NATCHEZ &045; Surprising most on the board of aldermen, Mayor Phillip West on Wednesday proposed that the city look for ways to withdraw from the authority of the Civil Service Commission, the board charged with hiring and promoting uniformed police officers and firefighters.

West also said he is drafting a letter calling for commission Chairman George Robinson to resign.

West brought up the issue at the end of a board meeting, noting he had not discussed it with aldermen beforehand.

&uot;I am of the opinion that we ought to make an effort to come out from under the civil service commission,&uot; he said.

Doing so would require passage of a bill by both houses in the Legislature.

West said Robinson’s resignation would be &uot;in the best interest of the community. I think the civil service commission needs better leadership.&uot;

Robinson, reached by phone after the meeting, said he has no intention of resigning.

&uot;I am simply discharging the duties of the office,&uot; said Robinson, who was appointed to the commission by the board of aldermen about 15 years ago and elected chairman at the same time.

The commission has three members who elect their own chairman.

The civil service commission, created by state statute, has responsibilities for hiring and promoting police officers and firefighters as well as determining the rules and exams uniformed officers need to adhere to or pass before they can be promoted.

West said he had met with police officers in the past few weeks and was surprised by the lack of morale and lack of confidence in the civil service commission.

&uot;One of the reasons pointed out (by officers in the meeting) was a lack of confidence and faith in the civil service commission and what they have or have not been doing,&uot; West said.

Alderman Ricky Gray said he agreed with West &uot;100 percent&uot; on abolishing the commission. After the meeting, he also said he would join the mayor in signing the letter to Robinson.

Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West, responding to the proposal to abolish the commission, said he was concerned because he wanted to make sure a system was in place to hire and promote firefighters and police officers.

Alderman Bob Pollard said he would need more information before considering abolishing the commission.

Mayor West said the letter calling for Robinson’s resignation has nothing to do with a dispute between the aldermen and the commission over the rehiring of a police officer. Aldermen, on a split vote whose tie was broken by West, rehired Officer Willie B. Jones to the force two weeks ago. Under state law, hiring a police officer is the responsibility of the civil service commission.

Last week, the Civil Service Commission voted to seek legal action against the city because of the rehiring.

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said she would join West in signing the letter; Aldermen Jake Middleton, David Massey and Bob Pollard said they would not.

&uot;I don’t want any part of that action,&uot; Pollard said of the letter.

Middleton said the issue should not have been brought up in an open meeting before aldermen had a chance to discuss it.

Gray said he had had concerns about the promotions process even before West was elected mayor.

Alderman West had no comment about signing the letter.