Interesting Executive Session Tonight

Tonight was an interesting council meeting for a number of reasons.  The Council was scheduled to hear from the Solicitor's office in an executive session about the status of the firefighter's contract, and the agreement reached on the police contract.  

Harry and Justin chose to use the already resolved police contract in an effort to smear me.  They implied that my job as a defense attorney conflicted with my ability to ratify a police contract.

Before we got to the executive session, the council was considering whether to increase the police detail expense from $50 to $55.  It was a good idea, as the rate had not changed in 8 years.  And the 10% increase was modest, when salaries had increased by 19% in that time.  

But several of the councilors apparently didn't understand it and asked for a continuance to gather more information.  I gently opposed the continuance, pointing out that the increase required two hearings, and asked if the issues could be clarified before the second hearing.  When city staff agreed, the continuance request was withdrawn.  However, Councilor McLaughlin used the opportunity to suggest that I needed an ethics advisory opinion on whether I could vote on issues touching the police department.  I thanked him, but declined and we moved on.

Later in the meeting, a proposal was made to increase the Water Department's spending by $450,000, passing those expenses on to the water rate payers.  Councilors McLaughlin and Winthrop seemed particularly confused and indicated that they did not understand that this proposal would force even higher water rates.  It was at this point that the City Manager indicated that it was her idea, and with that, it failed 7-0.  Kudos to Councilor Leonard for pointing out this stealth tax and killing it.

Later, I recused on the award of the Waste Management contract, and also recused on the city manager's proposal to use tax revenue to purchase $950,000 worth of new trash barrels from Waste Management.  Waste Management, Inc. is a client of mine, and I have always recused on all waste hauling issues.

A short time later, we voted to re-convene in executive session.  We all  

Councilors Present (order of arrival): Farley, Leonard, Napolitano, Winthrop, Neville, McLaughlin

Staff Present: Behan, Nicholson, Howington, Sitrin

The executive session began immediately once 4 members of the council entered.

I joked to McLaughlin: "Nice jab about ethics in there."

McLaughlin responded: I was going to give you a heads up, but you missed the pre-meeting."

I said, "That's Ok.  But maybe if you and Harry worried less about ways to take shots at me, and more about reading the docket you would've notice the $450,000 bill that was being passed on to the taxpayers in their water bill. You two sounded like a couple of morons out there."

McLaughlin responded: "F-- you.  F--- you."

I continued, "Maybe you, Harry and Naomi can put your newfound ethics knowledge in a book. Naomi has a great deal with the Preservation Society, maybe she can get them to sell it for you in their book store.  It won't be any more out of place than her other book."

At this point Councilor Camacho entered.

Councilor Winthrop stated, "I will not participate in closed door sessions on the police contract until Councilor Farley has sought and received a ruling from the ethics department as to whether he can represent people against our police department."

I said, "That's not how it works you dipshit."

Winthrop and McLaughlin depart without further comment. Quorum remains.

Councilor Camacho seemed unsure about whether to depart.  I invited Marco to depart, but he and Naomi remained seated.

Councilor Napolitano wisely asked everyone to calm down and indicated that she did not wish to discuss these issues. I noted that the group is in executive session and that the topic of discussion must be confined to the issues identified in the executive session agenda.  Solicitor Nicholson agreed.

Councilor Neville said to Camacho, "It's up to you."

Marco said, "I'm going to step out too."

Neville and Camacho departed thereafter. At that point, the quorum was lost and the executive session terminated. But no motion was made to seal the minutes, and so this session is essentially open to scrutiny.

I don't intend to recuse on police issues.  And I intend to support the police contract.  I've spoken with both sides, and I believe it is a good deal for the city, and a good deal for the police.  If an ethics complaint is filed against me, I will cooperate, and if my analysis is mistaken, I will take responsibility for it. 

Let me know what you think.  

And yes, I already regret calling the Mayor a "moron" and a "dipshit."  He was incorrect, and he is taking unfair and personal shots at me, but I know better.  I should've held my tongue.  Maybe next time.

Editor's note: two instances of the F word were edited to remove all but the first letter. No other aspect of this blog post has been modified.