An emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees in the Village of Country Club lasted about five minutes Thursday night. When Village Attorney Ron Holliday told the three members on hand that the meeting was improperly called, they voted to adjourn.

Officials and residents have been critical of the way Chairman Roger Robbins has been conducting village business, and many are taking their complaints to the Missouri Attorney General and Auditor.

The latest conflict began Wednesday when Robbins was asked for an emergency meeting of the board to consider replacing a damaged police squad car.

Robbins asked Village Clerk Julia Elder to poll the board, but according to Elder, Robbins never officially called the meeting. The poll showed that just two members were available to join Robbins for a meeting Thursday night. That is enough to establish a quorum to consider the request from the police chief.

But Elder says she was never told to call the meeting, board members were not officially notified, the village attorney was not notified, the meeting was never posted on the Web, and no agendas were distributed.

Robbins says he posted a notice of the meeting on a bulletin board in the foyer of the Village Hall, which he said he believed was enough to notify the public, even though the notice was posted after hours.

Holliday told board members he did not believe the meeting was properly announced, that it violated the Village’s municipal code, and it should not proceed.

Board member Allen Ashelford then moved that the meeting be adjourned, and board member Juanita Herrera seconded. All three members voted to adjourn. So far, no follow up meeting has been announced.

Elder says no agenda was sent out to board members. Elder and Thompson say the meeting was improperly called, and Village Attorney Ron Holliday agrees.

There has been widespread criticism of the Robbins’ conduct in the past, including earlier meetings and meeting cancellations that were deemed improper. Observers say village business has ground to a halt under his chairmanship. Robbins insists he has done nothing wrong, and that the business of the Village of Country Club is being taken care of.

Some members of the board and village staff have contacted the State Auditor and Attorney General’s offices for possible investigations. So far no official action has been taken at the state level.

After the meeting, about twenty people met informally and agreed to form a 501(c)(4) political action committee to allow them to raise money to get the word out about their grievances. Organizers say it’s possible a formal court grievance could be filed.

A village booster has posted a blog online (at www.villagedirt.com)to publicize many of their grievances

Robbins will be up for re-election in two years.