Tensions continue among members of the Durham City Council.
Councilwoman Monique Holsey-Hyman, who has been under investigation on allegations she promised a vote to a developer in exchange for a campaign donation and she had a city staffer do campaign-related work, says she's been bullied.
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The council last week discussed how to deal with allegations against Holsey-Hyman, but Durham Mayor Elaine O'Neal says the city's procedures do not address how to censure council members or how to require that they recuse themselves from issues where there is a conflict of interest.
Councilwoman Jillian Johnson proposed censuring Holsey-Hyman, but the vote never happened.
O'Neal says the city rules do not give enough direction. Without that direction, O'Neal says, the city faces a public that can question how they make decisions.
At Thursday's work session, Holsey-Hyman also pointed to issues with that procedure.
She said, "I still do not feel that the procedure committee, especially the committee that actually put out that censure about me ... didn't follow any guidelines, and now there are other council members who are going to have to deal with similar things."
Council also discussed issues of decorum and professionalism during meetings. After the accusations against Holsey-Hyman were made public, Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman was caught on camera shouting at Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton.
"I feel I've been bullied," Holsey-Hyman said. "I feel that I have not been respected, and I feel that the way some people speak to each other is inappropriate."
Freeman agreed that more rules are necessary.
"In part my behavior on council, and having an outburst with another colleague off the dais, is also reason to have those type of procedures and response in place," she said.