Council sets closed session Tuesday to discuss mayor’s ‘discipline or dismissal’

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

MAYOR JOHN ROYALTY

Friday, March 24, 2017, 4:30 p.m. — The Bardstown City Council meeting Tuesday night will include in closed meeting for “discussions with might lead to the discipline or dismissal of an individual employee namely, Mayor John Royalty.”

The closed session set for Tuesday is expected to include final report of the investigation conducted by Lexington attorney Scott Crosbie.

The current investigation is part of an investigation the council approved on Jan. 3, 2017. That initial investigation was to examine the anonymous packets of public records targeting Councilwoman Kecia Copeland and former Councilman Francis Lydian that were left at the council chambers doorstep Nov. 1. The council hired Crosbie to investigate.

But that investigation was greatly expanded following a closed meeting with Crosbie at the council’s Jan. 24 meeting. After emerging from the meeting with Crosbie, the council voted unanimously to expand the investigation to include “all government matters requiring further investigation.”

In January, the council approved a whistleblower ordinance aimed at protecting city employees from retaliation if they reported wrongdoing, illegal or unethical acts in city government. As part of his investigation, Crosbie had filed numerous open records requests for a variety of documents, including city employee emails and communications involving the mayor.

Councilman John Kelley told the Nelson County Gazette earlier this month that the council was expecting the investigation to come to a close and issue a final report by April 15. Kelley said Friday afternoon Crosbie was ready to make his final report at Tuesday’s meeting.

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