Mayor George Flaggs Jr. is bringing back the board work sessions.

The mayor also said he will hold a 6 p.m. public meeting Aug. 1 to update residents on the activities in the city.

Beginning in August, Flaggs said, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will meet each Monday the board does not have a scheduled meeting to discuss issues involving the city.

“I’ve asked the aldermen to present their plans for the next year,” he said. “We want to hear from them.”

Flaggs held work sessions during his first term in office.

“I just decided it was time to do it,” he said of the decision to bring the sessions back. “I just think it’s necessary we start talking about wards and the responsibility of the wards. I think we’re getting off track. I’m getting far too many calls from constituents regarding issues that should be dealt with in the wards rather (by) the city.”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said he supports the return of the informal meetings.

“I’ve always thought it was a great idea that we come together as a board and have work sessions, because there are many times you can iron out things when you can take the time to sit down and be able to talk to one another and figure things out as a board, so I feel real good about the work sessions.

“I think it’s a good thing; it can only foster what we’re trying to do in this community,” Mayfield said.

South Ward Alderman Alex Monsour agreed.

“I think it’s good that we’re going to do this,” he said.

Part of the reason for putting more responsibility on Mayfield and Monsour to handle issues in their wards, Flaggs said, is because he is making changes in his office following the announcement by Brian Boykins, his administrative assistant and chief of staff, that he is leaving the city Aug. 24.

“We’re going to do things differently, because if I’m to create the jobs they want me to create, if I’m to provide the public safety that needs to be provided, and do the things we need to do to become competitive, than I need more time to do that,” he said.

By having the aldermen focus on their wards and allowing him to focus on being mayor, Flaggs said, “We’re going to get a whole lot more accomplished.”

The Aug. 1 meeting, he said, was called at the request of several residents.

“They wanted me to be available to take any questions they’ve got; not just about crime, they just want an update on the city,” he said.