Legal bills related to investigation of a 2010 radio broadcast brought criticism from residents and officials alike Tuesday before one was approved and the other tabled for a review of its legality.
One resolution was for a $9,146 increase to $10,000 already authorized to pay the legal firm of Genova & Burns to defend the council against a lawsuit brought by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs against the governing body. It was approved after a pitch from Councilman William Reid to table it failed. Reid alluded to high murder rates in other cities and hinted that the Aug. 1, 2010 broadcast may have reduced crime in Plainfield. But the resolution passed with council members Vera Greaves and Bridget Rivers voting "no" and Reid, Annie McWilliams, Cory Storch, Rebecca Williams and Council President Adrian Mapp voting "yes."
The other was to pay $22,126 to Shwartz, Simon, Edelstein & Celso, LLC for representing the mayor in the council's investigation of a $20,000 payment to WBLS for the broadcast. Williams commented that the legal bills were not about the WBLS broadcast.
"The legal bills had to do with the fact that the mayor broke the law," Williams said. "Every penny should be paid by the mayor."
Williams recalled that the council investigation came about after the mayor did not respond to requests for information.
"We had to find the truth on your behalf," she said.
The resolution was tabled in a 4-3 vote, with Greaves, Rivers, Reid and Storch voting "yes" and McWilliams, Williams and Mapp voting "no."
Inquiries on how the event was funded began immediately after it took place, but it was not until the council invoked its investigative powers under the city's special charter that irregularities were uncovered.
In public comment before the votes, Dr. Harold Yood said approval of the mayor's legal bills would amount to condoning all the improprieties that led up to the findings.
Residents James Pivnichny and Delois Dameron also spoke against payment of the mayor's legal expenses, while Dottie Gutenkauf recalled she had offered to mediate the matter before it went to litigation.
The result of the investigation was a reprimand and a $200 fine imposed by the council, but the fine was later dropped.
--Bernice
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soooooo... what facts exactly is Storch hoping to find by tabling the vote ? Is it his turn to play "unifier" with the Mayor and her stooges?
ReplyDeleteI wish Reid would stop with the excuse that crime went down after the mayor's debacle.
ReplyDeleteIf he had a clue, he would look at the stats (not just guess because it fits his purpose) and see that crime went UP after the radio broadcast.
And to Dotty, so what? So you offered to mediate - did the mayor do it? Did anything come from it? So what? What is your position?
Councilman Reid worked with me on this--he was also interested in settling the case--and we met with the mayor. Ultimately the "settlement" was exactly what he and I had proposed--BUT--since lawyers got involved, presumably in "crafting" the language, there are bills to pay--which there wouldn't have been if the parties had been willing to settle directly, without their lawyers. What a waste of taxpayers' money this whole affair has been, from start to finish! (That is, if it's finished--one can but hope.)
DeleteAny City Council member who votes to pay the for mayor's legal bills should have to answer to us. I would wonder what the mayor has done or is doing for them for their vote. Sharon caused the problem and broke the law. I don't care if she goes broke. She's the worst mayor we've ever had and should be fired.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
Between the Mayor and Hellwig there's alot of attornies making money!
ReplyDelete