Council needs to clean-up act

Press release  posted at the request of Council representative Brian Cummins:

Council needs to clean-up act, move to

regain credibility and trust

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

9/12/07, Cleveland, Ohio

Contact:  Ward 15 Councilman Brian J. Cummins, 216-812-2128 office;  216-333-5453 cell

 

Cleveland City Council needs to act and act more quickly to regain trust and credibility with Clevelanders. The recent allegations regarding sexual harassment, computer tampering and other wrong doing by Council President Sweeney places a shadow on Council.

 

Council President Martin J. Sweeney made a mistake in trying to offer a large ($56,000) severance package to Council Clerk Emily Lipovan.  The deal was not explained prior to being reported by the Plain Dealer and without proper information and because the amount of the offering was so large, a majority of Council members forced the deal to be taken off the table.

 

Following the reporting of the severance deal accusations of sexual harassment, computer tampering and other wrong doing were brought to light.  These are serious charges that question the integrity of the Council President and place at risk the credibility of the entire Council if not dealt with in an effective manner.

 

One major problem in dealing with this matter is that Council is prohibited by the City Charter[1] to meet in closed door sessions to discuss personnel matters.  Council thus far lacks the tools, process or management systems to effectively deal with such a serious conflict between the Council President and Council Clerk.

 

The Council is clearly hesitant to act without clearer corroboration of the accusations.  But, because the accusations are being made against the Council President, many members are skeptical that this problem can de dealt with effectively by the current Council leadership.

 

With the Council President denying any wrong doing of the accusations, the Council Clerk returned to her position without thus far backing up her allegations and, no clear plan by the current leadership to resolve this matter, Cleveland City Council is at a standstill. 

 

The public will not stand for Council’s inaction in dealing with these matters.  Although the problems were kept from being swept under the rug the mess lying on the floor needs to be cleaned up.  The current Council leadership has been ineffective in dealing with this matter thus far.

 

Council needs to investigate the serious allegations of wrong doing and begin a process to regain credibility and trust within the eyes of the public we serve.  This problem can not be dealt with effectively by any single Council member or by the existing Council leadership alone. 

 

I call on my colleagues in City Council to work with me in identifying and developing the proper tools and processes to deal with these matters effectively and fairly with a level of appropriate transparency so we can move forward unfettered in dealing with the important challenges we face as a City.

 

[1] Charter of City of Cleveland, Chapter 5 - The Council, Section 28 - Meetings of Council, http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/clevelandcodes/cco_charter_05.html [1]

 

 

Ref:

• Council asks no questions about Clerk Emily Lipovan's harassment allegations Sex harassment queries blocked [2]
  Wednesday, September 12, 2007, Susan Vinella, Plain Dealer
• Council President Martin Sweeney's base gets shakier [3]
  Phillip Morris, Tuesday, September 11, 2007, Phillip Morris, Plain Dealer
• Clerk of Council Emily Lipovan says aide snooped through her computer  Sweeney blamed, pulls $56,000 buyout [4]
  Tuesday, September 11, 2007, Susan Vinella and Henry Gomez, Plain Dealer
• Cleveland council president cancels payout for clerk [5]
  Henry Gomez September 10, 2007, Plain Dealer
• City Councilman: Clerk Emily Lipovan says she was harassed [6]
  Susan Vinella, Saturday, September 08, 2007, Plain Dealer
• Cleveland council questions separation pay for clerk [7]
  Susan Vinella, Friday, September 07, 2007, Plain Dealer