FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY or PARTISAN POLITICS

It is most distressing that several Council members continue to ignore their fiduciary responsibilities and instead practice the lowest level of partisan politics by misrepresenting the focus of the WBLS payment investigation

The matter of the WBLS investigation although not per-se on the agenda occupied a substantial portion of the Council meeting

When Chairman of the Committee of the Whole Reid introduced a Resolution authorizing an additional $11,000+ reimbursement for the WBLS inquiry investigative attorney resolution to pay the attorney he could not resist making a lengthy comment.

Once again he expounded upon the foolishness of the Council spending over $20,000.00 to investigate a matter of $5000.00. Councilwoman Rivers also agreed on how it was a wasted of time and money that could have been used for other projects. Councilwoman Greaves joined the other two in voting unsuccessfully against the resolution.

At the end of the meeting during public comments, Plainfielder Roland Muhammad and another citizen also vehemently chastise certain Councilors for spending money to disrespect the Mayor who had acted in an emergency situation. He prophesied that the two members who are up for reelection will be defeated by his" brothers”; friends and relatives who live all over the city.

The two Council seats up for election this year are “At Large” and Third Ward.

Those individuals on the Council and some City employees conveniently forget the fact that the investigation was only to determine if there were any irregularities in providing the funds for WBLS’s services. They conveniently disregard that much of the increased investigative cost was due to the time spent resulting from the Mayor and other employees refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

No one has answered the question of who has picked up the Mayor’s attorney’s fees or how much he was paid.

Several months ago because of Corporation Council Williamson' s potential conflict in the investigation, it was noted that a Special Corporation Counsel was appointed for the investigation; reimbursed through the Corporation Counsel’s accounts. If so by whose authority did the City pick up the Mayor’s legal costs in this affair?

These individuals, because of Partisan Politics, have tried to turn the issue into an inconsequential one of only a few dollars. They disregard the fact that the issue was not one of dollars and cents; but was instead an issue of integrity and adherence to fiduciary responsibility. In plain English one of right or wrong.

The investigation itself found that protocol and procedural rules were not followed. Indeed funds designated in one line (media) were inappropriately used for this function. There was also a question about the use of a check designated for the 4th of July Celebration for the WBLS's services.

If council members are supporting or even condoning inappropriate use of designated funds; they too are guilty of violating their fiduciary responsibility.

Guys it is well past time for all you Councilors to stop political posturing and work for the benefit of the community. That is what you were elected to do. There should be no more 4:3 votes without honest justification.