Comments on: City Commission Approves Reimbursement of City Manager Reese Goad’s Attorney Fees

By: Edward Lyle

Edward Lyle — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 17:15:09 +0000

I think we need an Independent Ethics Commission to investigate the members and workings of our Independent Ethics Commission. The we can put together a “Task Force” to look into whether or not we put together too many Task Forces…

… ok, now I have a headache

By: TONY

TONY — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:20:23 +0000

Edward, if it went all the way to the point the person needed to hire an Attorney then, the complaint must of had some teeth to it and the Commission felt the need to follow through with the complaint. I know Erwin Jackson had filed several and think he might be one that filed one on Goad. I knew that once the City Commissioners voted to keep Goad on, the complaint was going to be delayed and then dismissed.

By: Edward Lyle

Edward Lyle — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 21:21:41 +0000

@Hope… As I stated up front in my last comment, “I take your overall point”. And I wasn’t implying that “all” complaints are frivolous and/or false. I wasn’t clear enough on my delineation thereof… so… my bad.

I believe we actually see eye-to-eye on this. I detest public corruption, particularly by those entrusted with the honor of holding public office… and I’ve seen far too much of it in my time and career(s). But I’ve also seen good people maligned and destroyed by lies, false narratives, and agendas…far too often as well. And I believe that the general public as a whole – by design – has become too desensitized to that part of the equation.

Suffice it to say, and confirm… that I agree with your overall position on this.

By: Hope

Hope — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 13:53:45 +0000

@Ed

There is always something to an ethics complaint; they are not frivolous and they are not false, when a citizen has a legitimate concern that is their avenue the process has allowed. Also, please remember the adage that where there is smoke there is fire.

Let us not forget that someone is about to enter the halls of federal prison for corruption who handpicked this city manager not because of his experience and educational credentials (which he does not have to be a city manager), was picked because he would be an ally to the corruption and to those who were/are perpetrating corruption.

I don’t want to know who filed it, but I think the complaint had merit and that for too long the city commissioners need to step up and do a nationwide search for a proper city manager. We have suffered in many ways because of this corrupt action.. Perhaps a complaint should be filed against each City Commissioner until they do this.

Many times there is retribution and pay back for people who report corruption.

I applaud the plaintiff and I only hope that more people come forward because it is not easy to file an ethics complaint. Hopefully, more citizens will step up when they see wrongdoing and corruption.

By: Edward Lyle

Edward Lyle — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 13:21:44 +0000

@Hope… I take your overall point. However, if an ethics complaint(s) rise to the level of requiring a paid-for legal defense, then in my opinion, accountability for the result becomes paramount. If the complaint is properly investigated and dismissed, and furthermore deemed to be false, then the person who leveled the false claim should be held financially accountable for the costs of defense.

I truly believe that if frauds and/or the ambulance chasers who represent them were held financially accountable for the results of their false and frivolous legal actions, we would see a substantial decline in false and frivolous legal actions.

@Publius… excellent question. A breakdown of the ratio of successful-to-unsuccessful complaints, along with the associated cost to the taxpayers, would be good information to have. It may also lend weight to my notion above.

By: Publius

Publius — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 10:19:18 +0000

How many ethics cases have been approved since it’s formation and against whom and circumstances?

By: Snidely Whiplash

Snidely Whiplash — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:05:14 +0000

Hmmm wondering if our old “ethics shmethics” officer Meadows – Keefe was one of the 2 or maybe both of the complaints were filed by her????

By: Hope

Hope — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 21:22:56 +0000

Ethics complaints are dismissed all the time and sometimes they shouldn’t be, however if it is dismissed then the government entity should pay the legal fees. I don’t see it as a waste of money I encourage people to come forward and question when they think something is not right.

By: Edward Lyle

Edward Lyle — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 17:50:55 +0000

So… who filed the ethics complaints in the first place, and are there any repercussions for those who filed the “apparent” false claims?

Are we taxpayers no entitled to know who caused the waste of our money?