Debate sparked at City Council

Police union looks for city manager's removal

By: Hillary Settle

Posted: 12/8/04

Debate sparked at the City Council meeting Tuesday after the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 made a public statement asking that City Manager Scott Smith be removed from his position.

The statement, which was read by union president Justin Peterson, said Smith's decision to appoint external candidate Paul Welch was "no less than insulting," and asked the council to help the police union and Smith reach a compromise.

Applause from members of the police department and other community members erupted when Peterson finished.

The statement read at the council meeting followed a no confidence vote in Smith, which was filed by the police lodge on Dec. 1.

Members of the council then debated with one another over the release of information that had been discussed in executive session regarding who council members supported in the police chief decision.

Council member Larry Rennels said he didn't agree with council member Lorelei Sims' decision to speak openly about who each council member voted to become the next police chief before the minutes of executive session were released to the public.

"I thought what was expressed in executive session was to be kept confidential until those records are released to the public," Rennels said. "I do not believe that (the information released and published in newspapers) was accurate."

Part of the executive session minutes summarizing the discussion and position of the council was released during the meeting because of the controversy.

Mayor Dan Cougill said he still supported Smith's decision in appointing Welch as the new police chief.

"I hear what the people are saying and what the (police union members) are saying," Cougill said. "This was a council decision, not Scott Smith's decision."

Cougill said he could not respond to questions asked by citizens at the meeting because the police lodge is pending litigation against the decision to appoint Welch over a candidate from within the Charleston Police Department.

"There's a lot of controversy in the community," said Krista Taylor, a Charleston resident who spoke out at the meeting. "I was looking for clarification today, which I don't think I got."

On the regular agenda, the council proposed to set the new property tax levy at 1.7963, a proposed decrease.

On a $60,000 home, the proposed levy would cost $355.67 in property taxes in one year.

"It will probably be less than the 1.7963 because the growth of the (equalized assessed value) has not been calculated into that (number)," Cougill said.

The proposed levy will be on file for inspection until the next meeting in two weeks.

The council also amended an ordinance eliminating parking on Eighth Street because of the size of the city's new fire truck, which Cougill said cannot properly maneuver around vehicles parked on the street.

Resolutions accepting the renewal of worker's compensation insurance in the amount of $308,862, authorizing the expenditure of tourism funds in the amount of $1,100 for the national weightlifting championship to be held in February and entering into a contractual agreement for technical assistance services with Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission were also passed at the meeting.