BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. — For the third consecutive day the lights are on at Bellefontaine Neighbors City Hall, but the doors remain 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 in an effort 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 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 Terry, 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.”