BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. — For the third consecutive day, the lights were on Wednesday at Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall, but the doors remained locked due to an ongoing employee walkout.
“Sometimes extreme measures are required to bring awareness to the situation,” Bryant Nelson said. “This has brought awareness to what’s going on.”
According to Bryant Nelson, chair of the Public Safety Committee, all non-essential city workers walked off the job to try to get the Board of Alderman to pass a budget for the first time in two years.
“I want to be clear, the city isn’t in jeopardy because the finances aren’t available,” Nelson said. “The finances are there. It’s just that a passed budget needs to happen.”
Though city leaders have continued to decline requests for comment on this story, emails obtained by 5 On Your Side show that Mayor Dinah Tatman requested the budget be placed on the agenda in September, but the Ward 4 alderman asked for it to be removed since only board members who previously voted against it can bring the matter up for discussion.
“We have portions of the board who have made an effort not to pass certain legislation, and pass budgets, that include funding to hire additional employees,” Nelson said.
The situation has drawn the attention of State Rep. Marlene Terr (D-District 66), who was seen at city hall attempting to get answers, as well as St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.
“It’s unfortunate to see a local government stop moving forward when there is conflict between the mayor and the council,” Sam Page said. “I hope they’re able to talk and work out their differences and those employees are able to go back to work.”
However, there are still questions about how long the walkout will continue.
“I hope it doesn’t last too long,” Nelson said. “I believe both sides need to come back to the table and act in good faith. Sit down and state the real issues, act in good faith, compromise isn’t a dirty word. No one is going to get 100% of what they want.”
Wesley Gillespie, the Ward 1 alderwoman, provided the following statement:
"Thank you for the opportunity to address the ongoing issues in Bellefontaine Neighbors. As both an Alderman and dedicated resident, I believe that finding common ground is essential to advancing our community. When we collaborate on initiatives that benefit our city, everyone wins. My approach is always collaborative, and I reject the "my way or the highway" mentality that only serves to create division. Transparency is essential and our citizens deserve a government that is open and accountable.
"In July, the board was informed that our city clerk would be retiring from their position at the end of August. We had two months to begin the process of finding a successor. I understand that some board members feel the Mayor should not be involved in the hiring of the city clerk. However, given that this position works closely with the Mayor. I believe her input is both reasonable and beneficial, especially as she would not have a vote in the final approval.
"A significant challenge facing our board is the consistent, accurate application of "Roben's Rules of Order," particularly around voting procedures and abstention practices. Citizens deserve to understand the reasons behind each abstention, as it represents their voice in my opinion. Unfortunately, this remains an unresolved issue.
"As I expressed to Channel 4 reporter Deion Broxton: "For the past six months, 1,vo Aldermen have frequently referenced their Missouri Municipal League (MML) training in meetings. Yet, despite years of experience on this board, city governance has not improved- in fact, it has declined, with the board now struggling to effectively address critical issues."
"I ran for office not to engage in conflicts but to find common ground that best serves our residents. Unfortunately, some board members have left meetings in frustration when outcomes didn't align with their preferences, disrupting proceedings and showing a lack of respect for our citizens present in person and on Zoom. This behavior is unacceptable. Our residents-and our city employees-deserve a level of governance that respects their time and prioritizes their needs."