Memphis, TN (abc24.com) - Shelby County Commissioners have put a vote to censure Commissioners Terry Roland and Mike Ritz on hold.
"We looked pretty foolish this past week, but it is time to step up and stop all this crazy behavior," said Commissioner Chris Thomas.
Last week, Commissioner Brent Taylor sponsored the censure resolution after allegations that an email he sent on December 23rd looked, in the words of Commissioner Ritz, like a "bribe." Taylor adamantly refuted that accusation.
"It looks like a bribe to me, it also looks like an opening meeting violation, and it also looks like, frankly, a possible conspiracy," said Ritz.
Taylor fired back, playing an audio tape to the full commission.
"I'm assuming that since you are saying I violated the Open Meetings Act you have never done that yourself," Taylor said.
"Just in case there was any question, I do have a recording here," said Taylor, as he played what sounded like a voice-mail from Ritz.
Taylor stopped playing the recording when several commissioners called for a point of order. Taylor declined to play the rest after the meeting.
"I think everyone knows now we need to use our words carefully, that words matter. And I think everyone involved now realizes that," said Taylor.
But even after all of that, Commissioner Ritz wasn't changing his tune.
"I stand by that, it could well be, Commissioner Taylor may have been fronting for somebody else, I don't know. I'm glad we didn't have to go into it," said Ritz.
