he layeth the smackdown upon thee... 143 and counting
From STLTODAY.COM
Judge rules against mayor in Overland police chief flap
By Norm Parish
POST-DISPATCH
05/25/2006
A circuit judge ruled today that Overland Mayor Ann Purzner exceeded her authority by trying to replace Police Chief Jim Herron with former Frontenac Chief Ben Branch. Herron will remain as chief of the municipality
Judge Robert S. Cohen also ruled that Purzner didnÂt have the power to suspend Herron without City Council approval.
The decisions end weeks of controversy over who is Overlands police chief. At one point, both Herron and Branch simultaneously had offices in the citys police station.
Purzner has been trying to replace Herron and make other changes in the city since she was sworn in as mayor last month. Earlier this week, she survived a challenge to her four-vote election margin, actually picking up one more vote during a recount sought by challenger Mary Beth Conlon.
So it is official. The Ort won the mayoral battle but lost the war. They have lost the majority on the board. They do not have the power to appoint people without the vote of the majority of the board and most importantly they have angered the populace. If they do not make serious amends they will lose the 3rd ward open seat in April and some of their other members may be voted off. Maybe now the city can get back to the business at hand.
Judge rules against mayor in Overland police chief flap
By Norm Parish
POST-DISPATCH
05/25/2006
A circuit judge ruled today that Overland Mayor Ann Purzner exceeded her authority by trying to replace Police Chief Jim Herron with former Frontenac Chief Ben Branch. Herron will remain as chief of the municipality
Judge Robert S. Cohen also ruled that Purzner didnÂt have the power to suspend Herron without City Council approval.
The decisions end weeks of controversy over who is Overlands police chief. At one point, both Herron and Branch simultaneously had offices in the citys police station.
Purzner has been trying to replace Herron and make other changes in the city since she was sworn in as mayor last month. Earlier this week, she survived a challenge to her four-vote election margin, actually picking up one more vote during a recount sought by challenger Mary Beth Conlon.
So it is official. The Ort won the mayoral battle but lost the war. They have lost the majority on the board. They do not have the power to appoint people without the vote of the majority of the board and most importantly they have angered the populace. If they do not make serious amends they will lose the 3rd ward open seat in April and some of their other members may be voted off. Maybe now the city can get back to the business at hand.
posted by John Doe at 11:53 AM
4 Comments:
A lesson from Gravy Crane's 48 Laws of Power.
"Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past."
I wonder if Mayor Queeg is going to sign Herron's check now. I saw Chief Herron the other day. He looked at peace with himself and his career. I overheard him say something about in light of the future cash settlement with the City of Overland and Mayor Queeg, he will finally able to afford a nice place to retire in Florida. I think he said something about moving into Del Boca Vista Phase II.
Scoop, agree on your sentiments. Also, that Tolen should NOT be paid by the City of Overland. This was a direct accusation against Ann not the city.
Gravy, posted something similar on the Overland Chat. People are always leery of change. And when the change involves their sense of security (e.g. if there is upheaval in the police department) then that raises that leeriness exponentially. Of course, the only rebuttal was that some people don't see the police as security. True, but not really to the point of Ann not thinking this through.
Cheers to the end of Ann-archy.
Now, let's hold a pool on who can guess to the closest dollar (without going over) the total of Overland's legal bills since April 12.
I have never posted anything on Overland Chat, do not have a User Account and provide content to this blog under exclusive license agreement.
Any reproduction, rebroadcast or unathorized use of the Gravy Crane moniker is strictly prohibited by the Professional Association of Anonymous Blog Posters.
Thank you for your support.
Gravy, I meant that I had posted something similar on Overland Chat.
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