Last winter, Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson got what he calls “a nastygram” from the city clerk informing him that he was no longer on the Water Board because he had missed too many monthly meetings to remain on the panel.
Johnson said that City Clerk Therese Pac counted wrong, that he didn’t actually miss more than 60 percent of the panel’s monthly meetings in the previous year, but he didn’t contest the decision.
He said he missed five of the 12 sessions – missing seven would put him over the legal limit – for “some very personal, legitimate family issues” that he told Mayor William Stortz about but doesn’t want to air in public.
Johnson said Stortz told Pac to oust him from the five-person panel, but the mayor said that’s not true.
He said Pac does what the law requires. He said it’s possible he called the attendance problems to her attention. “If I did, that’s my prerogative,” Stortz said.
When Stortz tried to name a successor to Johnson, the City Council rebelled, with the Democratic majority telling the mayor they wanted to put Johnson back on the panel. They said they thought his reasons were legitimate.
A stalemate ensued for the rest of the year until Stortz convinced a majority last week to go along with naming Sean Dunn to take the empty Water Board slot.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
6 comments:
There are so many holes in Johnson's story.
First, Therese Pac is not a fly by night City Clerk. She doesn't send the letters out for those commissioners that have missed too many meetings without the proof from the meeting minutes that show the attendance records. She's a very detail oriented person.
A copy of the letter she sends is also sent to the Mayor. It is at the Mayor's discretion to either present to the council that the person remain on the board with the absences considered "excused" or to recommend to the council that the person be replaced.
Why is he upset with Art? Isn't he leaving out the others that voted him off the board like Ellen and Rimcoski?
Why is this appointment so important to him? Isn't he planning on being elected Mayor which would removing him as a Water Commissioner anyway?
That's right Ken - everyone is wrong except for you.....The Mayor, Art Ward, and not the City Clerk.
It's a conspiracy.
Ken, did you read the legislation?
I suggest you read it again.
Maybe you should run for City Clerk.
Just think, City Clerk, Mayor, Water Board member all at the same time.
Wow, you'll always be right.
Ken's way or the highway, get me mad and watch me rant, what do you mean that I actually really, really do have to "show up" at meetings, not my fault, look for someone, anyone, else to take the blame; heck of a political/personal legacy that Mr. Johnson is building up.
Kenny, do the math.
By your own admission, 5 missed meetings puts you over the limit.
A U if Virginia graduate?
No wonder CLPs rate bilings were so far off!!!
I love bristol it is soooooooo ganstaa and i like the new cabot circes.
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