City Beat

CITY BEAT

By George Murin
The Weekly Recorder
April 11, 2008

Washington- Some residents of this city have been complaining that council meetings are boring since the new administration took office in January. All of city council working to solve the city’s problems and only Councilman Matt Staniszewski causing any waves by not voting for the tax increase. All that changed on April 3rd. It wasn’t the personal attacks that used to highlight the meetings last year, but it was unexpected and left Mayor Sonny Spossey and Councilwoman Virginia Ullom wondering what happened.

The first 44 items on the meeting’s agenda all passed unanimously. Council approved past minutes of meetings; paid a few bills, appropriated $25,000 to Citizen’s Library (down 33% from last year); donated $3,000 towards the 2008 4th of July fireworks; authorize the city clerk to take bids for a storm sewer project at the intersection of Jefferson and Wylie Avenues; authorize the city’s solicitor to prepare a petition to annex the property adjacent to Washington Park; and hire 2 police officers and a part time floater/parking meter officer. But then agenda item 45 arrived and council took an executive secession to discuss a possible lawsuit.

When council returned Mayor Spossey made a motion to enter into a settlement agreement that was discussed in the executive secession and it was seconded by Ullom. During the ‘comments on the motion’ phase Councilman Staniszewski asked “Has Ms. Galluze sued the city?” Receiving no answer, he repeated the question twice more.

Then Lane Turturice, the city’s solicitor, said “It is the advice of the city’s solicitor not to discuss matters of litigation in public.” Staniszewski the rephrased his question and asked,”Has Ms. Galluze threatened to sue the city?” No one seemed to want to answer. He then went on to complain that he asked for a written opinion on this matter and received none, stating that “If someone has a legal opinion, I’d like to see it!”

Most people in the audience had no idea what was going on. Lynn Galluze is the city’s I.T. / computer contractor and has been working for the city 25 years. She is paid similarly to the city’s solicitor and bills by the hour. She has been, since earlier this year, trying to become a regular employee.

Staniszewski then went on to state,” If Ms. Galluze threatened litigation, why would we want to hire (her)…as an employee…(when she) has been an independent contractor her entire time; if she didn’t threatened litigation, why is this all this hidden from the taxpayers and done in executive secession. If she is an independent contractor, not an employee, the personal reasons can’t be that matter (for executive sessions)….The people have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.” After a brief pause the mayor asked, “Are there any other comments?” Then the vote and the matter failed to pass; Councilmen Staniszewski, Faust and Blackhurst voting no and Spossey and Ullom voting yes.

Spossey then made the motion to hire Ms. Galluze as a full time employee. Staniszewski again spoke up, “Did we advertise for a job here? Did anyone look at other independent contracting options to save the taxpayers some money? …What person can walk into any business, with their attorney, and demand a job on their terms, what employer is going to put up with that? ...This individual could be getting an approximate $15,000 raise…not to mention the city’s residency requirement…it states that a city employee must live within 7.5 miles of the city. Ms. Galluze lives in the Greentree area. Some politicians are willing to wave this requirement, but everyone else must abide by the rules.” A somber Mayor Spossey only had one small comment in response, “Those of us that have been here awhile know the problems that can occur if we don’t act responsibly.” This motion also failed to pass.

Knowing the mayor, like I do, he would not have placed items 45 and 46 on the agenda unless he was sure they would pass. The look on his face was almost total disbelief, I could tell he was blindsided. After the meeting he stated that he felt betrayed. Virginia Ullom was just plain angry again finding herself on the wrong end of a 3-2 majority on council, something she had to put up with the last few years. Talking with Councilmen Faust and Blackhurst later, they felt that this whole matter was being rushed and the city should look at all the options available. Faust told me that the City of Butler (almost identical to Washington) pays a lot less for their computer work.

The other shock to the mayor was the motion to table the sale of Strawberry Alley to Washington & Jefferson College. The Mayor stated that Councilman Blackhurst thought it was a very good deal. But both Faust and Blackhurst thought a better arrangement with the college could be had.

The next agenda workshop will be 9:30 a.m. on May 5th, and the next regular meeting on May 8th at Noon. But I’m sure there will be something before that; council is always calling special meetings.