2014-04-28 reg Part 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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result of this process and the Commission would urge Council to support its adoption. Mr. Michels stated that as a representative of the Commission he would be happy to make himself available to answer questions, now or later, for any member of Council. H. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Ed Mass, 8360 Cornell Avenue Mr. Mass stated that the City Manager’s action in suspending the firefighters was wrong. He stated that the threat of firing was a political action, not an employee issue, and could have easily been dropped after the election. Mr. Mass stated that the suspension does not in any way benefit the community of University City. In fact, it intentionally creates division in the community, as well as unnecessary financial costs and public safety issues. This is not the proper role of a City Manager. Mr. Mass stated that the City Manager serves at the will of Council and is their employee. His actions in creating this intentional discord goes far beyond any excuse of a personnel issue, so let’s be honest about what it is and call him to task for it. Mr. Mass stated that as with any employee who takes an incorrect action Council has the power to force the City Manager to reverse his action for the good of the community. He then questioned if there was anything in the Charter that states that Council does not have the right to direct the City Manager to reverse an action? Mr. Mass stated that the City Manager’s article in ROAR’s right before the election on how the budget is in such good shape, is obvious political campaigning on behalf of the three people who were running for reelection. If any employee of the City that campaigns in an election is to be punished in some way by firing or suspension, then this principle applies equally to the City Manager. Mr. Mass stated that it is not right for this Council to hold a double standard and he hoped that the Mayor and other Council members can apply fairness and direct the City Manager to remove the suspension of the firefighters. He stated that his comments will be supplied to the City Clerk electronically and he would request that they be included in a searchable text format in the minutes of this meeting. Jen Jenson, 706 Pennsylvania Ms. Jenson stated that she was present tonight to give each Council member and the City Manager th invitations to the annual Sutter-Meyer Society meeting which will be held May 5 at 7 p.m., at the Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Center. Ms. Jenson stated that a local resident and member of the Board of the Sutter-Meyer Society, Carol Diaz- Granados, will be the guest speaker, and her topic will be about the archeology of the 1904 World’s Fair at Forest Park. Ms. Jenson stated that she hopes that everyone would attend this meeting. Lisa Hummel, 7575 Stanford Avenue Ms. Hummel stated that she was present tonight to protest the three month suspension, without pay, of five of the City’s firefighters. She stated that she does not believe that in order to work for this City firefighters or anyone else should have to give up their right to express a political opinion. She stated that Mr. Walker is a City employee himself, and in the March/April 2014 issue of ROAR’s he was decidedly not neutral when he praised the voting records of the Mayor and certain Council members who were up for reelection, leaving out any praise for the voting records of Ms. Carr or Mr. Crow. Ms. Hummel stated that at least when the City’s firefighters expressed their candidate preferences they did it with their own Union’s money. Mr. Walker did it in a taxpayer funded publication where he expressed his political preferences while clearly acting in his role as City Manager. She stated that she supports Mr. Walker’s right to express an opinion, even though he is employed by the City, just as she supports the firefighters’ right to do so. But since Mr. Walker strongly objects to their right, then he should consider suspending or dismissing himself. Ms. Hummel stated that her belief is that under more competent management the City’s firefighters would not have felt the need to fight this hard to vote out the incumbents. If their voices were being heard and their concerns taken seriously, she does not think they would have been motivated to spend so much time, money and energy to try and affect the outcome of this election. She stated that the moral of the firefighters has clearly suffered under Council’s leadership, and University City is going to gain a reputation as being a place where employees are not respected or treated fairly. Ms. Hummel stated that according to the Post Dispatch Mr. Walker said that, “Several residents brought it to my attention and considered it to be inappropriate that firefighters would be