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Councilman to another: Resign or else |
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Friday, 11 April 2008 |
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By Matt Burks
Courier Staff A Bryant alderman asked one of his fellow alderman to resign Thursday or risk a city investigation to determine if any criminal, civil or ethics charges may be brought against him.
This occurred toward the end of a lengthy City Council meeting at Boswell Municipal Complex.
Alderman Danny Steele, in his fourth year as alderman for Ward 1 and who and previously served on the council from 1985 to 1995, read a prepared statement to Mayor Larry Mitchell and other aldermen asking for the resignation of Alderman Rick Meyer from the same ward.
“When a person is elected to a public office, there is an expectation, by the electors, that the person who is elected will represent the people in an honest, trustworthy manner and conduct himself or herself as a person of integrity,” Steele read before a packed session. “In recent weeks a member of this City Council, Rick Meyer has, with impunity and without regard for the members of this City Council, met with a representative(s) of the firefighters union while an ongoing investigation into accusations made by these firefighters was active. During these meetings information was exchanged which was inflammatory to the accusations being made against [Bryant] Fire Chief Randy Cox... [Meyer] revealed to certain individuals information that was discussed by the City Council while in executive session. This action seriously damages the confidentiality set forth by an executive session and calls into question the integrity of the City Council as a whole.”
The most damaging statement by Steele accused Meyer of providing media representatives with copies of materials contained in a Feb. 28 firefighter investigation that was sealed and placed in a safe at the Bryant Police Department.
“This material had been sealed in the investigation file with the exception that it would remain there until the investigation was completed,” Steele said. “This action constitutes a fatal breach of trust between Alderman Meyer and the remaining members of the City Council. Mr. Mayor and City Council members, all of these charges have been confirmed by employees and citizens of Bryant.
“Due to the seriousness of these charges, I hearby call for the resignation of Alderman Rick Meyer to be rendered by 12 noon on Friday, April 11, 2008. If [Meyer] chooses not to resign, I am requesting that Mayor Larry Mitchell direct the Bryant Chief of Police [Tony Coffman] to conduct a through investigation into all of [Meyer]’s activities, as they relate to the city of Bryant, to determine what criminal, civil and/or ethics charges may be brought to bare against him.”
Meyer, who has served on the Bryant council since 2002, told Steele before adjournment of the meeting that he will not resign and to proceed with an investigation if he choses.
In a statement released to the Courier today, Meyer said, “The remarks made last night by Danny Steele are just another chapter in a long line of ignorant, misinformed, politically motivated actions by a frustrated, incompetent, unmotivated alderman who has failed to join me in representing Ward 1 to the best of his ability. He has spent his entire tenure on this council warming the bench, contributing little or nothing other than to vote ‘no’ to every substantive effort made by this council, while recklessly pursuing me with every trivial accusation that his imagination can form.
“Danny Steele’s recent failed attempts to brand me as being in violation of Freedom of Information laws was even repudiated by the Arkansas Ethics Commission and the city of Bryant attorney [Nga Starzewski]. He is a disgrace to the city of Bryant, a disgrace to the City Council, and a pathetic example of the kind of government officials we can do without.”
Steele told the Courier in a telephone interview today that he has been advised by legal counsel to not speak anymore in regard to the resignation request of Meyer. The Bryant mayor and city attorney were not available for comment by press time.
Other members of the council are Steve Gladden, Steve Glenn, Larry Smart, Robby Young, Ken Green and Chris Tipton.
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