NATCHEZ — Mayor-elect Darryl Grennell sent a letter to all sitting aldermen, Natchez Mayor Butch Brown and City Attorney Hyde Carby Monday asking each not to make any commitments in today’s meeting that would bind his administration.

“It was just to take action prophylactically, that is, to prevent anything from happening in terms of binding us to any agreement or lease or the sale of any property or so forth,” Grennell said.

Grennell said he did not know of a specific planned action he was seeking to prevent, but felt avoiding new contracts would be in the best interest of the city.

“I think it’s just the proper protocol,” Grennell said. “That’s why I sent the letter out, just to protect the board of the new term.”

In the letter, Grennell wrote that several “delicate matters” were on the table that would need serious and thoughtful attention, including the matter of the request for proposal for the interior renovation of the Mississippi River Valley Railroad Depot, the Convention Promotion Commission, the management of the Convention Center and other public facilities, tourism staffing and matters pertaining to the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission.

“Respectfully, I request that the (Natchez Board of Aldermen) not sign any contracts, sell any property or make any commitments on behalf of the city as the current administration draws to a close,” Grennell wrote in the letter.

Carby said the law prevents government boards from making some laws and commitments that bind their successors.

“There is a statute that says you can’t spend an amount more than one fourth of (the yearly budget) between April and July of the last year of office,” he said. “Although there are several categories of spending that it doesn’t apply to.”

The successor board doctrine, Carby said, also has similar exceptions but prevents boards from dictating the policies of the next administration.

“A board can’t bind the next board,” Carby said. For example, he said in many cases a contract more than four years long can be voided by the next administration.

Brown said the letter would not necessarily change his plans for today’s meeting.

“Any motion that is made is essentially a contract between the mayor and board of aldermen and whoever else is involved,” Brown said. “I, for one, will take up the business of the city regardless.”

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said she does not expect any controversial issues to arise in today’s meeting.

“Obviously, we have to adopt a docket,” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “People have got to get paid. It’s going to be basically business as usual.”

Arceneaux-Mathis said she expects the new administration to take office with no issues.

“All the functions of the city are going to go on like they have to,” she said. “This government is set up to transition from one to the next, and I think it’s going to be smooth, no problem.”

Ward 4 Alderman Tony Fields, who did not run for reelection to his seat on the board, said he would not mind delaying any board actions that are not immediately necessary.

“It’s not unreasonable,” Fields said of Grennell’s request. “There’s nothing we have to do that has any time constraints on it. So I don’t mind, personally, deferring to the next board. It’s OK with me.”

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery, who did not win reelection, will also leave office July 1.

“I guess when board gets together tomorrow morning, they will decide what route they want to go,” Fortenbery said. “You’ve still got to do some city business, and if something is pending, it needs to be looked at,” he said. “If not, we can just go through the docket and go home.”

Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Toles, Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith and Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard could not be reached for comment.

The board will meet today in council chambers, with the finance meeting at 9:30 a.m. and regular meeting at 11 a.m.