What happened to transparency?

To the editor:

Doug Bagby was fired from the position of city manager with a vote of 4-2 by the city council Monday night. This decision is a great loss for the city of Poplar Bluff.

Doug Bagby is one of the finest public servants I have ever met.

The new city council's true colors are now showing. The very idea of having a city manager with the character of Doug Bagby (who has served this city well in a number of ways over the years) escorted out of the building by police after firing him shows the lack of professionalism and common courtesy of the mayor and the pack of three -- Tinsley, Johnson and Rushin. Oh yes, I must add Johnny Brannum, who just a few weeks ago voted that he was satisfied with Bagby's performance.

What happened to the transparency Angela Pearson and the pack called for while campaigning? Did they have the right to fire the city manager? Yes, it is their decision! Do they have a moral and ethical responsibility to account to the citizens for this decision? Yes, they do!

I believe Angela Pearson and others on the city council are being influenced by a single outside influence who owes the city over $200,000. Pearson and the self-described "merry men" campaigned against what they referred to as a "good ole boy system."

I fear we are about to see a "good ole boy system" that we have never seen the likes of before!

Ron Black

Poplar Bluff