After an executive session tonight, the mayor read an ordinance that announced a settlement of the lawsuit with former police chief Jim Reinhold. The ordinance appropriates $125,000 to settle the issue. Reinhold had originally filed a claim for damages of $1.65 million.
After some discussion, the town attorney drafted a resolution to approve the settlement agreement, which was read into the record by the mayor. The ordinance will come back to the next meeting on November 3rd for a second reading and public comment. It wasn't clear if the resolution would also have a second reading.
There was much more that happened at the meeting tonight, including new direction on the issue of a mayor. We had a couple of stirring speeches and tense exchanges. I'll get it all transcribed and up as soon as I can.
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9 comments:
Wow, I know this falls back on the former mayor Transue because he fired the chief but it's obvious the city of Ruston was in the wrong here if they wanted to settle this matter. It's time Albertson steps down.
I'm not sure what the connection is to Albertson. From what I've seen at the meetings, he wasn't a major player in this issue. I'm curious what your reasoning is for wanting him to step down over this issue.
Danny A is lawsuit happy. Didn't he sue the Town once or twice?
Care to clarify what lawsuits you're referring to? I still don't understand this blog's standards on civility and appropriate comments. A person can make an accusation against a public official because they're held to a higher standard but doesn't have the responsibility to back that up with substantive facts?
Dan sued the town (along with Michael Transue) over the placement of a storage yard on town property next to the playfield, which is located in front of his house. I believe they lost the first suit, and he appealed or somehow pursued the issue a second time.
A comment was made this afternoon that my understanding of Dan Albertson’s legal actions against the town was incorrect. I am researching the issue, just in case my memory of the issue is not correct.
I have posted the comment on the complaint page of new Free Ruston site (see link on the main page), as it was better suited for that forum.
Not just incorrect and incomplete about your coments in which you said Dan Albertson sued the Town; you are also incorrect about the settlement of ex-police chief Jim Reinhold. The total settlement is $250,000, not $125,000.
You really need to do better research before you put out statements as though they are fact.
People reading your blog should not be mislead either deliberately or because of lack of research.
I reviewed the tape of the meeting. The only amount publicly stated was $125,000 in the ordinance as read by Mayor Pro-tem. No information was provided to the public other than what was verbally presented at the meeting. The last commenter is obviously privy to information that has not been made public yet (or the information is part of a settlement agreement that may not be available to the public).
The town attorney did confirm that insurance money would pay for part of this after the meeting. It could be that the town would pay $125,000 and insurance pay the rest. Most settlements are private, but since one of the parties is a public agency this one may be different. I will make a public information request tomorrow and sort this out.
It seems to me that the only ones who would know the details given by anon #4 are the former chief, his attorney, the town attorney and current councilmembers. So....who's the one writing about something they learned in executive session??? Wow, what a violation that is.
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