PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Things got a little heated during Tuesday night's Port Arthur City Council meeting after council members didn't approve some extra training sessions the mayor wanted to attend during an upcoming conference.
Mayor Thurman Bartie will be attending the National League of Cities' 2024 Centennial City Summit in November. Council members Thomas Kinlaw III and Willie Lewis will also be attending the conference which happens in Tampa, FL, from November 13 - 16, 2024.
The trip to the conference had been previously approved for Bartie and the council members, but Bartie wanted to attend several pre-conference "executive education sessions."
The extra sessions for the mayor would cost an additional $1,327.03 for the sessions and extra meals and lodging for three days.
Thurman's request was listed as part of the council's consent agenda for Tuesday night's meeting.
Council members voted 4-3 not to approve the extra cost.
The mayor was not happy about it and before moving to the next item on the agenda, spent two minutes berating the council for not approving the extra cost.
Watch the entire discussion
"The bigotry and jealousy and discontent that assails in this room has a stench," Bartie said at one point.
Bartie told 12News on Wednesday that every networking opportunity he receives at conferences is necessary to grow the City of Port Arthur.
"Those things that I expressed are true and factual," he explained. "Those things that I've expressed have been exemplified since I've been here. But I've never just expressed them."
His says his comments at yesterday's council meeting were not said in anger, but truth and says he stands by what he said.
"Well being the lame duck, it was time to express those things," Bartie said on Wednesday.
In the middle of the discussion, which was not a part of the agenda, at-large council member Thomas Kinlaw III walked out.
“That situation could’ve been handled differently, but you know he’s his own person, so he’s responsible for what he says," said Kinlaw.
Kinlaw told 12News he voted against the funds because city council already has a travel policy that outlines the pre-approved conferences.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.