PERRY COUNTY, Miss. ( WHLT ) – Beaumont neighbors are upset after an emergency board meeting was call off Thursday evening after the aldermen voted to fire three out of five of the town’s police officers . The mayor said he disagreed with the decision and ordered a veto.

In order to override the veto, at least four of the five aldermen had to vote in agreement. Only three of those aldermen showed up on Thursday.

Alderman Chris Bolton and Alderwoman Wanda Lawrence were absent from the meeting, and Mayor Scottie Dailey dismissed the meeting.

Teresa Horsley, a resident, questioned the late notice for the meeting, only being announced on Wednesday. Dailey said he was also surprised by the meeting.

“I did notice that the posts that they put up around town about this meeting, they were actually posted later in the evening yesterday. So, really too late for a lot of the public to even know that it was going on,” said Horsley.

“I was caught off guard by the meeting myself. I didn’t know one could be called so fast,” the mayor said.

Many asked why the aldermen would not give a reason as to why they want the officers removed. The city attorney said they do not have to disclose that information, but Dailey said there have been complaints about speeding citations. He’s unaware of any wrongdoing.

“As far as blatantly out doing things that cause them to be a detriment to the town, I haven’t seen that,” he said.

Former Beaumont Alderwoman Princess Bolton said she’s frustrated with the lack of transparency from the board.

“I think that if they’re getting rid of them, they should let the public know, you know, whether he’s compliant or, you know, abusing, abusing tickets or whatever. They should really, you know, talk to the public. We are taxpayers,” she said.

The aldermen said the firings were a personnel matter, but they would not expand upon that. Dailey said a new meeting should be set within the next week for the vote.

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