Judge Michael Taylor instructed everyone to remove any electronic device they had and delayed the beginning of the trial, Patterson vs. the City of McComb Selectmen, so that everyone could take their cell phones and other electronic devices out of the building on Tuesday, March 2. The trial, which was scheduled to begin at 10am, did not start until 10:25am to allow the courtroom audience and participants the opportunity to comply with Taylor’s order. He said the devices were interfering with the sound system in the courtroom, causing static interference, because of the larger than normal crowd in attendance.

During the two day proceedings the audience would break its silence with a groan or with laughter when they heard something surprising, unbelievable or funny. Two area residents spoke about the trial:

Katie Jenkins, a Ruth resident, followed every minute of the trial, along with her husband. “How can selectmen have such memory losses and still run the City of McComb?” She was referring to the testimony of some of the selectmen who said that they could not remember certain things, events or dates. Jenkins said that she felt the current situation for McComb Mayor Zach Patterson is unjust.

“The mayor should have the authority to preside over whatever goes on in the City of McComb—especially regarding positions, meetings, and special called meetings.” She said if the mayor pro tem refuses to preside over a special called meeting, then the meeting is unfair and should not take place. “The mayor should be given the right to run the city as any other mayor. We have a very intelligent mayor, but the city administrator and selectmen have limited his duties. Until he is allowed to act as mayor, the City of McComb will not prosper.”

Jenkins was one of several members of the courtroom audience who observed the McComb selectmen seated together as defendants during the two days of trial testimony. She said that the mayor “has not been given full control of his office since he was elected mayor. I’m sure it has affected his health and the health of the city. It’s obvious that the selectmen are running the city and the mayor is the mayor in name only.”

McComb resident Charles Jones is a regular at McComb city board meetings. He expressed his disappointment during a break in the trial proceedings. “What brought all this on—is personal. Some of the selectmen saw where they could take advantage. Previous mayors have never been taken to this point. They have challenged everything the mayor has tried to do.”

Jones continued, “I don’t see anything constructive that’s come out of this. They have been uncooperative, but the mayor has still been getting things done. He’s had to go to court to prove that he is right. Selectmen are not putting the city first, they are putting ‘self’ first. This is a personal vendetta.”