By Brian Livingston
blivingston@themeridianstar.com
Meridian residents followed closely the moves of Mayor Cheri Barry as she replaced department heads and commission members in quick succession.
In October, Lee Shelbourn, former Petal Police Department chief, was sworn in amid much opposition from some in the black community, as the new chief of police for Meridian effectively ending Benny DuBose's 25-year law enforcement career in the city.
On the same day Anthony Clayton was tapped by Barry to be her new fire chief of the Meridian Fire Department. Clayton replaced Jeff Homan who is now Director of Governmental and Legislative Affairs for the City of Meridian.
In June, outgoing mayor John Robert Smith named Capt. Jeff Lewis as the new assistant chief to replace the retired Tommy Miller. His movement up the ladder left his commander of operations seat open, an opening then Lt. Dean Harper filled with his promotion and advancement in rank to captain. But those new promotions didn't last long. Barry rescinded the promotions shortly after taking office in July. After a new hiring procedure was implemented, Lewis, on Dec. 21, won the job ... again. His commander of operations position is still vacant pending another round of testing.
In November, Barry sent letters to all of the existing Civil Service Commission members telling them their services were no longer needed. The city administration's claim was all the current members were serving on expired terms. On Dec. 14, members of the Meridian City Council approved Barry's five picks to the commission.
The new commissioners, Nadia Irum Siddiqui, Ward 1, Roscoe Jones, Ward 2, Yvette D. Neal, Ward 3, Thomas Hopson, Ward 4, and John S. House, Jr., Ward 5, all have staggered terms ranging from one year to five years.
