Mayor and School Finance Commission Deny Wrongdoing to Attorney General

Leader Herald Contesting

City’s Statement of No Wrongdoing

By Lorenzo Recupero

The mayor and a city commission he heads have denied any wrongdoing in a July incident this year when the mayor ordered Leader Herald Publisher Josh Resnek to leave a session covered by the open meeting law in his conference room next to his office at city hall.

An attorney for the mayor, Janelle Austin, denied all claims of wrongdoing itemized by Resnek to the Attorney General’s office regarding the incident.

Resnek claims the mayor ended the meeting abruptly, stared at him and ordered him to leave and then said:” Now we’re going to have a private conversation.” Resnek alleges the city purchasing agent followed Resnek to the door. He walked out of the conference room with everyone there watching. He slammed it shut.

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Open Meetings, Closed Doors

Commission.jpg
PHOTO BY JOSH RESNEK
The School Finance Commission is shown at its most recent meeting at city hall. School committeeman David Ela is addressing city and school officials following the executive session discussing the Open Meeting Law violation led against the mayor and the commission by the Leader Herald.

Violation quickly and quietly discussed by commission


By Lorenzo Recupero

An Open Meeting Law violation filed with the Attorney General’s Office by the Leader Herald against the mayor and the School Finance Commission which he heads, was discussed in an executive session behind closed doors as suggested by the mayor last Thursday.

The closed door discussion, held in the City Council conference room about how the city is going to answer the Attorney General, lasted about 15 minutes.

It ended with the commission members filing out of the conference room and taking their seats inside the chamber.

There was no discussion about the preceding, or what was decided, or whether or not the Leader Herald would be notified of its decision.

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