This story deserves to be read in its entirety, via the link provided. The excerpt I’ve chosen is meant to illustrate the latest in an escalating list of transgressions committed as council president by the West End’s foremost seeker of the mayor’s palatial office.
Does the attorney Dan Coffey claimed to consult work for the firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe? And, why did Cappuccino even bother, given his own expertise (chortle) in the matter?
Carl Malysz: Environmental study shouldn’t have been released to New Albany City Council, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).
According to Stephen Key, general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association, Coffey breached executive session privileges by handing out the assessment.
He said there are provisions in the Indiana code that allow for discussion of certain litigation, but he said this case doesn’t qualify.“The problem is the litigation has to either already be filed, threatened in writing, or has to be a situation where it’s a case the council is considering filing,” he said.
Closed meetings are allowed for strategy planning for property acquisition, but Indiana code states those sessions are only for the
governing body that will potentially make the purchase.
In this case, it is the commission — not the council — that would make the buy.
Coffey defended his action by saying he felt obligated to let the public know about the contaminants. In addition to Robison, he said he consulted with an attorney — who he did not name — with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management before making the decision.
