Fort Meade commissioner questions whether two newest commissioners live in the city

Gary White, Lakeland Ledger
·2 min read
Jaret Williams, left, and Samuel Berrien are Fort Meade's newest commissioners. Another commissioner has questioned whether the two commissioners live in the city limits. They said in a city meeting that they do.
Jaret Williams, left, and Samuel Berrien are Fort Meade's newest commissioners. Another commissioner has questioned whether the two commissioners live in the city limits. They said in a city meeting that they do.

The longest-serving member of the Fort Meade City Commission has questioned whether the two newest commissioners are entitled to remain on the panel.

At a recent meeting, James Watts introduced questions about the residences of fellow commissioners Samuel Berrien and Jaret Williams. Without providing much detail, he suggested that Berrien had moved from the residence he listed while a candidate for office. Berrien won a runoff election in November for the open Seat 5 on the commission.

Watts said he had learned that Berrien had canceled utility service at the address he listed as a candidate. He said that if Berrien had moved from Fort Meade, he should be forced to vacate his seat on the commission.

The city charter requires candidates for the City Commission to be residents.

Berrien, appointed as vice mayor in January, said that he had left his previous address but was living elsewhere in Fort Meade.

“I live in the city, and I don't care to make my address public record,” Berrien said.

Fort Meade Commissioner James Watts has questioned the qualifications of the commission's two newest members, Samuel Berrien and Jaret Williams.
Fort Meade Commissioner James Watts has questioned the qualifications of the commission's two newest members, Samuel Berrien and Jaret Williams.

Norman Powell, the newly appointed city attorney, then addressed the issue. The city charter gives the City Commission the authority to remove a member only for malfeasance — improper or illegal behavior or abuse of authority.

“So, to the extent that there has been a statement provided, on the record, concerning whether or not Vice Mayor Berrien continues to qualify as a commissioner under the charter, and he stated in the affirmative, I’d say we should end the discussion,” Powell said.

Powell said that the commission should not any take action “based upon hearsay evidence,” suggesting that the burden of proof was on Watts to prove Berrien was no longer qualified to be a commissioner. He said any attempt to remove a commissioner would be subject to judicial review.

Watts asked whether the commission should seek another legal opinion or open an investigation. Powell said that a majority of commissioners could vote to undertake an investigation.

Watts then questioned the residence of Williams, also elected in November. Because he ousted a sitting commissioner, Bob Elliott, Williams did not take office until January.

“I am qualified to be a city commissioner in the city of Fort Meade,” Williams responded.

Watts repeated a question about Williams’ qualifications, and Mayor Petrina McCutchen said that Williams had already provided an answer.

“Based upon legal counsel’s response and the reading of the charter, I personally find no cause to investigate any further,” McCutchen said. “These two gentlemen do qualify as commissioners. They were voted by the public to be commissioners, and therefore, unless there was a motion, we will move forward with our next item on the agenda."

Watts often voted in a majority block with Elliott and Commissioner James “Possum” Schaill before the November election changed the composition of the commission. Since January, he has sometimes been in the minority on 3-2 votes as a new majority of McCutchen, Berrien and Williams has emerged.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Fort Meade James Watts questions residences of two new commissioners