2014-04-28 reg Part 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Klein stated that several years ago when she was a new resident of University City and in the process of obtaining an occupancy permit an inspector came to her home during dinner, illegally entered her premises, and with a very aggressive and demeaning attitude threatened her with huge fines. She stated that when her husband challenged the inspector’s information he became even more confrontational and called the police. She stated that the end result is that that they were humiliated and assessed with fines. Ms. Klein stated that she complained about the behavior of this inspector to Mayor Welsch, who informed her that Mr. Walker would investigate the matter and get back with her. She stated that no one ever responded to her complaints, and in fact, she has an email that she sent several weeks later questioning why this issue had not been addressed. Ms. Klein stated ultimately she received a call from Ms. Riganti who stated that her husband was out of line and that they needed to pay the fines. She stated that some time later she found out that this inspector had two Protective Orders for domestic abuse against him, which was also brought to the City’s attention and still nothing was ever done. So now here you are disciplining these firefighters who are protecting our community, and she finds that to be unacceptable, unconscionable and disgraceful. Bwayne Smotherson, 1243 Purdue Mr. Smotherson stated that he is standing before Council today as a former candidate in this past election and wanted to say that this was a great and new experience. He stated that he learned a lot, but is disappointed by the actions of this administration, specifically the City Manager. Mr. rd Smotherson stated that he also wanted to give notice to the 3 Ward residents; stating the administration made you believe that the firefighter’s Union was an issue bigger than it was. They nd made you believe that Paulette Carr was a problem. However she is a 2 Ward Councilperson that rd works hard. He stated that he literally had a resident of the 3 Ward come to him and say, Jeff strd Hales, of the 1 Ward is not a resident. Mr. Smotherson stated that while there is a need for 3 Ward residents to be concerned about all three wards, as well as the entire city, what they really need to focus on is what’s happening in their own ward. He stated that in reference to the City Manager going public with a personnel matter, it would appear to him by the timing, that this was absolutely a political move. Mr. Smotherson stated that he appreciated all of the support he received and is grateful to have met some really great people. Jeff Hales, 7471 Kingsbury Mr. Hales stated that the most recent actions of the City Manager regarding the three month suspension of the firefighters is disappointing and dumbfounding. He stated that a number of residents had told him that people were going to make this election be about the City Manager; aren’t you going to be the fourth vote. Mr. Hales stated that over the last four years he has tried to forgive his ethical misgivings about how the City Manager was hired by many of the members on this dais. But he can no longer look the other way at this smut of an unethical, backroom hiring process that reeked of cronyism and patronage, and did not know how long this City could continue to look the other way. Mr. Hales stated that the City is now mired in another embarrassing public scandal with the suspension of these firefighters that was handed down by the City Manager for exercising their rights under Missouri law. Mr. Walker states that the firefighters violated the law because they participated in a photograph wearing protective gear and that “A reasonable person would conclude that they were in uniform,” despite the fact that none of them were. Mr. Hales stated that the City Manager has laid down the law regarding employee participation in elections and now that that is clear Council has a choice. Mr. Hales stated that everyone has already been over what the Charter states and the editorial in the ROAR’s newsletter, so the only thing he might add is that he believes that this is the only time that Mr. Walker has written an editorial in a City newsletter, which dropped ten days before election. He stated that in the interest of fairness he thinks that it is appropriate to use Mr. Walker’s standard as applied to the firefighters; then a reasonable person would conclude that Mr. Walker’s editorial in ROAR’s was an indirect campaign endorsement for the incumbents. He stated that had City Council not quietly changed the City Manager’s contract to remove his ICMA membership and associated ethical obligations on the eve of his censure and disbarment from that organization, he would have violated yet another ICMA ethic, Tenet Number 7, which states, “A member should refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence. And