Wednesday night's Council special meeting will be held at 8 PM in City Hall library. There only two items on the agenda; the first being permitting will the high school band to march from the High School to the Hub Stein field on day the football games. That would take approximately 2 minutes. to dispose positively..
The second item is the investigation of the $20,000 be a to WBLS radio station. Due to the fact that the special meeting is scheduled in the small confines of the City Hall Library, and due to the fact that city employees will be there under subpoena is most likely that the Council is anticipating this portion of the special meeting to be held in closed session.
As previously written (Friday 916) there is a legal question as to the appropriateness of this action. This meeting is not a hearing which is specific to the individuals expected to testify and has no power t take definitive action against anyone. Rather, it is a general investigation in which the Public has a vested interest. It would be nice if prior to the meeting the Council would post a legal opinion as to the rights of the public and the participants in this meeting.
There are other questions that have not been addressed. Among them is if any of the witnesses who have been subpoenaed retain legal aid, is the city responsible for the costs of same. Since, these individuals have refused to appear before the Council voluntarily it should not be the public responsibility to pay lawyers.
This question is also applicable to the Mayor if there should be a question of defending herself from charges of improper action. My bet is that in both incidents the answer is no; it is the person's responsibility.
Note that if any"action is taken" it will have to be done in the open meeting. That could be after the Council reconvenes it.
There are other questions that have not been addressed. Among them is if any of the witnesses who have been subpoenaed retain legal aid, is the city responsible for the costs of same. Since, these individuals have refused to appear before the Council voluntarily it should not be the public responsibility to pay lawyers.
This question is also applicable to the Mayor if there should be a question of defending herself from charges of improper action. My bet is that in both incidents the answer is no; it is the person's responsibility.
Note that if any"action is taken" it will have to be done in the open meeting. That could be after the Council reconvenes it.
I totally agree.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't trust these proceedings one bit unless they are held publically. Certainly the names of those employees who have been subpoenaed should be made public. This isn't a kangaroo court. Everyone should want this where the public is looking over every participant's shoulders; The City Council, the Mayor, the employees, and the attorneys. I wouldn't trust any public official who would close this off to scrutiny.
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