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Mayor James Perkins Jr. is claiming victory after a Dallas County Circuit Judge issued a summary judgment with prejudice in a lawsuit filed by a Selma company who was seeking payment for services performed in 2021.

In a March 24 court order, Circuit Judge Donald L. McMillan Jr. affirmed Perkins’ ability under state law to terminate contracts and that the mayor. Also, the mayor and Selma City Treasurer Terri Barnes-Smith were not personally responsible for withholding city funds from the Neely Preservation Group.

“I did not approve the payment of any municipal funds that were disbursed to NPG,” Perkins said in a statement he read at a press conference Thursday. “Municipal funds were disbursed to NPG solely under the authorization and execution of the City Council. From July 2021 through June 2022, invoices for services allegedly provided by NG were signed and authorized by the President of the City Council, Warren ‘Billy’ Young, or by a staff member appointed and under contract with the City Council. Checks issued to NPG were not authorized by me, but rather by Council President Young, and ultimately administered by a staff member appointed and under contract with the City Council.”

Read Perkins’ full statement

Read Young’s full statement

Young said in a statement Thursday that he was disappointed with Perkins’ decision to not pay the Selma business for the services they performed for the city.

“The City of Selma will pay the price for not honoring its contracts with its vendors and for failing to meet the critical needs that were being provided by NPG, LLC,” Young said. “Ironically, Mayor Perkins is now asking the City of Selma to use the public’s money to pay for lawyers who Mayor Perkins personally retained at more than $400 per hour and who have run up tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees that were not authorized by a contract approved by the City Council, which is the only entity that can authorize such contracts and control the City’s finances, as confirmed by the judgment recently entered by the Court.”

The issue came up during a Selma City Council meeting on Tuesday. Perkins said he believes the court ruling justifies his actions to terminate the contract.

“The court’s decision demonstrates that we were right to terminate the contract and halt payments to NPG,” Perkins said. “It also underscores the City Council’s overreach into executive functions, as they have repeatedly disregarded sound financial procedures to protect taxpayers’ money.”

Young, on behalf of the council, said the judgment he received wasn’t the relief they requested from the courts.

“In no way was that a win for the mayor,” Young said. “It was not a win for the Mayor when he wasted City resources by causing the City to defend frivolous litigation that he brought. It was not a win for the Mayor when he wasted valuable time that the Mayor could have spent serving the men, women, and children who live and work in Selma and who care far more about their safety, their streets, and their essential services than about the Mayor’s personal quarrels.”