After I reported this morning the vote by the Little Rock Civil Service Commission to overturn a suspension and firing recommendation of a cop who beat someone in a bar, a caller reported that one of those commissioners voting for the cop, Brett Morgan, lived in Scott.
Civil service commissioners must be residents of Little Rock for more than three years when applying for appointment. Morgan was appointed to a six-year term in 2013.
His address on city records is listed as 1500 Shackleford Road, a BMW dealership with which Morgan has been associated. The receptionist there said he hadn’t worked there for at least a year. City records show he applied for the job with a Chenal Valley address, but shortly after his appointment in May of 2013 asked that the Shackleford Road address be used on the city website.
His address for voting purposes is 26 Duclair Court in Chenal Valley. According to county records, that house is owned by Joe Morgan, whom a city officials said is Brett Morgan’s father. Brett Morgan, a former member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is listed as owner of a home on Plantation Lake Drive in Scott and records show that he acquired it in 2005. He’s about 48.
Morgan hasn’t responded to a phone or e-mail message about his residency.
I’ve also asked the city manager’s office about Morgan’s residency. They are checking.
It’s an important issue for this reason: If Morgan is ineligible to serve, it could affect yesterday’s vote. Four votes are required to pass a motion before the Commission. Without Morgan’s vote, there were only three votes to reverse the disciplinary recommendations.
The city may appeal the commission action in yesterday’s case concerning Lt. David Hudson. It has done so successfully before.