The Sweet Home City Council passed a resolution of censure last week against Councilman Robert G. Danielson for remarks made to the city manager.
The council voted 6-1, with Danielson opposing, during the council’s regular meeting on May 8.
“In reviewing the tapes and minutes of the April 24 City Council, it is my duty as mayor to take steps that this does not happen again,” Mayor Craig Fentiman said. “As we stated in the last meeting, we must at all times treat city employees, citizens and fellow councilors with respect and dignity. We must not use the public meeting as a forum to humiliate or intimidate a city employee or belittle a councilor’s opinion. If we have issue with the city manager, this can be taken up where it properly belongs, and that is in executive session.”
“We must at all times remember we are a council of seven. I do not believe that this council wants to operate this city under a form of bully politics.… We can disagree without being disagreeable. To do otherwise erodes the public respect this council otherwise deserves.…
“Differences of opinion are going to exist between individuals in all situations, including a council meeting. What is important is that everyone is given a chance to voice his or her opinion. However, this should be done with respect and courtesy to those present. Just because you disagree is no reason to be disrespectful.”
The resolution said Danielson “initiated disparaging, unwarranted and unprofessional remarks toward a member of the city staff.”
The resolution said that Danielson’s actions were not acceptable to the council as a whole and admonished him “to treat citizens and city employees with dignity and respect.”
Any consequences of Danielson’s behavior would not be indemnified or defended, according to the resolution.
In addition, the council agreed unanimously, at Mayor Fentiman’s recommendation, to revisit its code of conduct and make revisions to it to prevent situations like this in the future. Fentiman also said the council would operate through motions and no longer consider consensus a viable option in giving staff directions.
In the previous meeting, Danielson told the city manager, Craig Martin, to “shut up” until he was recognized. Later Danielson said “he’s spastic” in response to a comment directed at the city manager. That comment was not captured on the recording of the meeting, and Danielson denied it.
“Be good enough to tell me what disparaging remarks … you say I made,” Danielson asked Mayor Fentiman. Danielson took issue with the use of the words disparaging, unwarranted and unprofessional, unless the resolution was just repeating the same thing three times.
“I would deem ‘shut up’ as unprofessional,” Mayor Fentiman said.
“You already charged me with that,” Danielson said. Danielson asked on what grounds the city would not indemnify or defend him.
Mayor Fentiman said he used legal counsel to help draft the resolution; and following further questions and debate from Danielson, Mayor Fentiman said the conversation was like a cross examination.
“You know, I don’t think I have to defend this,” Mayor Fentiman said.
Danielson told Mayor Fentiman he was a “chicken” for not debating the issue.
Next, the council considered whether to revisit the code of conduct.
“Put in there that if you’re going to charge someone that you do it honestly that hide behind ‘I’m not going to debate that with you.’” Danielson said. Even the most heinous criminals get an explanation of of the charges they face when they go to court.
Present at the meeting were Mayor Fentiman and councilmen Danielson, Bob McIntire, Jim Gourley, Dick Hill, Jim Bean and Tim McQueary.