City ousts CVB director, board members

Published 12:23 am Tuesday, April 5, 2016

NATCHEZ —Natchez Alderman voted to remove the city’s tourism director Monday and sought resignations from each member of the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission.

The move came less than two months after a Feb. 12 incident between Kevin Kirby and one of his employees.

That dispute ultimately kicked off an investigation into the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s finances, Kirby’s job performance and, at times, a power struggle between the convention promotion commission and the mayor and board of aldermen.

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“With all the turmoil at the CVB, probably best to do it this way,” Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery said. “There’s a lot of he said, she said, who said — we just need to move on and see about getting a new director and a new board and moving on with our city business.”

The vote to end Kirby’s employment occurred after an hour-long closed-door session in which aldermen discussed the personnel issues at the CVB.

Aldermen ultimately voted unanimously to end Kirby’s employment and ask for the resignations of all six commissioners.

Kirby was hired in the fall of 2014. Questions about CVB finances began to surface publicly earlier this year as commission members began to publicly question spending practices and ultimately rescinded Kirby’s financial authority in late February.

Kirby did not return requests for comment Monday.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said he would choose an interim director soon, and a new hiring committee would be formed to choose another permanent director.

Ward 4 Aldermen Tony Fields made the motion to call for the commissioners to resign, seconded by Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Lee Toles.

Fortenbery moved to amend the motion to allow sitting commissioners to reapply for their seats if they so choose.

All six commissioners signed a resignation letter sent to the mayor and board of aldermen Monday.

“It is without hesitation that we resign our commissions and advise we have no interest in being considered for re-appointment,” the letter reads.

Former commissioner Virginia Benoist said the commission sent a letter to the city on Jan. 16, offering to resign if the aldermen desired.

Commissioners are nominated for their positions by the mayor and ratified by the board of aldermen.

Brown said he plans to nominate replacement commission members before his term ends in June.

Fields said nothing specific had occurred to prompt the timing of Monday’s decision.

“We’ve been dealing with this whole situation for a while, and we just can’t continue to let it fester,” he said.

Brown said aldermen would clarify job responsibilities of the commissioners and the director before replacements are hired or appointed.

The state auditor is still expected to investigate the CVB after the Gillon Group’s fiscal year 2014-2015 audit is complete.

“He’s on standby,” Brown said. “We’re working with him on ongoing schedules.”