The St. Louis Board of Aldermen descended into confusion and chaos on Friday after board President Megan Green abruptly ended the meeting as members began to discuss the Transform STL Act, which seeks to allocate $294 million in Rams settlement money.
Members were just preparing to question Ward 7 Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, one of the bill’s sponsors, when Green gaveled the meeting into a recess, a move some members later questioned as possibly not being in accordance with the rules of the body. Green indicated the board would return to session next Tuesday before striding out of the chambers.
This was the first time members of the full board had a chance to weigh in on the spending proposal, which was the result of a compromise between Sonnier and Ward 13 Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, who had previously put forward her own bill to spend the Rams money.
The meeting was already tense. Ward 2 Alderman Tom Oldenburg moved for Boyd’s original proposal to also be considered on Friday. Members of the board had agreed to that move before the meeting’s abrupt end.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
