Mayoral Apology Could Stem Lawsuit

An apology from Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs could halt an escalating and costly legal battle, a trio of political figures said Wednesday even as the City Council approved hiring defense to the mayor’s lawsuit against the governing body.

Council President Adrian Mapp, Councilman William Reid and Democratic Party stalwart Dottie Gutenkauf said they will make one last try to get the mayor to apologize for a 2010 incident which led to an official reprimand. The mayor is suing the council over a $200 fine imposed after a council investigation into funding of a radio broadcast aimed at stemming gang violence.

“This has burned up the city,” Gutenkauf said in asking the council not to spend more money on lawyers. “Let it go, and deal with the real problems the city faces.”

Mapp said if the mayor apologizes, the $200 fine would being rescinded.

There was only one resolution on the table Wednesday – to hire the firm of Genova, Burns and Giantomasi to defend the council at a rate of $250 per hour, not to exceed $10,000. Reid launched into a lengthy recap of the entire 19-month saga before asking the council to table the resolution in favor of trying to work things out with the mayor. But the council is facing a deadline to respond or be in default.

Councilwoman Annie McWilliams spoke in favor of trying to reach out to the mayor, although she said she understood why some council members saw it as a waste of time. As council president in 2010 and 2011, she said the mayor never responded to her phone calls or emails.

McWilliams said she had to file an Open Public Records Act request to get documents from the mayor. If the mayor declines a meeting now, McWilliams said, “It’s on her.”

But she said, “I think we have to continue to be the bigger people on this.”

Councilwoman Rebecca Williams did not want to table the resolution.

“I don’t expect that the mayor would apologize,” she said.

Mapp said he had asked City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh to discuss with attorney Angelo Genova the possibility of a special meeting Monday, but Jalloh said Genova indicated the timing would give him only one day to review the case. In answer to Reid, Jalloh said he had not asked Genova whether he could get more time.

Williams rejected seeking an extension.

“The reason we are here is because the mayor broke the law,” Williams said. “It was nothing the council did. The blame lies solely on her for her illegal use of public funds.”

Williams said she was not on the council in 2010, but for all of 2011, she said, the mayor never admitted any wrongdoing and went on to file suit against the council.

Storch disputed Reid’s contention that the city spent only $5,000 on the broadcast.

“It was a $20,000 city expense,” he said. Regarding the $15,000 Investors Savings donation that mayoral supporters say was used to offset the cost, Storch said he had spoken with an executive vice president and a regional vice president of the bank who both confirmed the money was donated for the July Fourth celebration.

Storch said the council was acting reasonably and he was ready to vote to retain the attorney.

Mapp said he was personally not in favor of rehashing the matter and agreed with Gutenkauf’s suggestion.

“I will stand with you,” he said to her.

Mapp said he would put the request to the mayor in writing and would reach out “first thing tomorrow morning.”

Reid said he would take the responsibility of  “setting the mayor down.”

Lacking a second to table the resolution, the vote was 4-1 in favor of hiring the law firm, with McWilliams, Storch, Williams and Mapp voting “yes” and Reid voting “no.”

Gutenkauf and Reid will share Mapp’s memo and join him in attempting to meet with the mayor.

“If she’s digging her heels into the ground, we can take her shoes off,” Reid said.

--Bernice