CLAYTON — A division between ºüÀêÊÓƵ County’s two top elected officials publicly deepened this week as they sparred over federal pandemic relief money.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Executive Sam Page won’t release $8 million promised to nonprofits — for sheltering victims of domestic abuse, boosting pay for child care workers and bringing fresh vegetables to food deserts, among other things — until the County Council agrees to reverse most of the budget cuts it made last year.
Council Chair Shalonda Webb said Page is holding the grants hostage for political reasons.
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The argument started after the council’s budget cuts last year. Page has said his departments don’t have the staff to administer the grants given the cuts. And if the money isn’t used correctly, the county could have to pay it back. Neither Page nor Webb have budged since.
And the argument flared again publicly at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“All we are asking, all our community is asking, is that you make good on a promise that you made,†Webb said to Page.
The departments, she said, can make do without the extra money.
“So, please don’t use that excuse,†Webb told Page.
After Webb spoke for about four minutes, Page responded.
“I just have one question,†Page said. “Would you like to meet?â€
“Yes, and my phone number hasn’t changed,†Webb replied, saying she’d like to meet publicly. “If you can’t do that, we’re at an impasse.â€
“I’m sorry,†Page responded, “you haven’t been able to keep any of our appointments over the past three months. I know you’ve been busy.â€
He said he would make himself available for a private meeting and that his staff could answer questions in a public hearing.
Webb said she wants Page to answer to the council in such a hearing.
“You are the one who has the authority to sign those contracts,†Webb said.
If Page doesn’t release the money by the end of the year, it would go back to the federal government.
The county could also use it to replace revenue lost due to the pandemic, Page has said.