City’s overspending won’t be part of mayor’s removal hearing discussion
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 10:30 p.m. — Though Tuesday’s Bardstown City Council meeting was notable because it was the shortest council meeting in recent history — 13 minutes — it was also historic in its preparation for the hearing that may result in the first removal of a sitting Bardstown mayor.
Councilman John Kelley told the council that its investigator Scott Crosbie and the attorneys representing both sides involved in Wednesday’s removal hearing met Monday with hearing officer former Circuit Judge Doughlas George for a pre-hearing conference.
- View the removal hearing meeting notice (pdf file).
Councilman John Kelley discusses Wednesday’s hearing that may result in the removal of Mayor John Royalty Tuesday night with the Bardstown City Council.
Kelley said that at the conference, Judge George was asked to delay the hearing but declined to do so.
JUDGE SIMMS TO RULE. Judge Charles Simms will meet at 8 a.m. Wednesday to consider the mayor’s request for a temporary injunction to stop the scheduled 10 a.m. removal hearing. Former city attorney Bruce Reynolds will represent the council at that hearing. If Simms denies the request for an injunction, then the 10 a.m. hearing will take place as scheduled.
FACEBOOK LIVE. The Nelson County Gazette is planning to stream the removal hearing proceedings via Facebook Live from the Nelson County Justice Center Wednesday morning. Check the Gazette’s Facebook page for the latest video or text updates.
HEARING: NO BUDGET DISCUSSION. Kelley said Monday’s conference discussion led to an agreement that the investigator’s report that focused on city budget overspending will not be part of the removal hearing — whenever it is held.
Crosbie’s report referenced the city auditor’s report about Fiscal Year 2016 that indicated the city overspent its general fund budget — among other issues.
‘There are a number of reasons why,” Kelley said without adding specifics about the discussion at the conference. To pinpoint exactly why “would require you to be there to listen to all the arguments.”
MEETING MINUTES QUESTIONED. The normally routine process of approving the minutes of previous meetings hit a snag Tuesday night when Kelley noted the minutes of the March 28, 2017, made no mention of investigator Scott Crosbie’s 44-page report, nor did the minutes reflect the fact that after the council emerged from a closed session at that meeting, it asked Crosbie to read the report’s findings, which he did.
“That was one of the most notable things that happened in city government, I don’t know why it’s not mentioned,” he said.
The minutes also didn’t reflect the council’s vote to accept Crosbie’s report, adding that the entire report should be part of the meeting’s minutes.
The council voted Tuesday night to table approving both the March 28 and April 4 meeting minutes until the next regular council meeting. City Clerk Barbie Bryant said she would make the additions to the minutes.
CEMETERY PRESERVATION. Councilman Joe Buckman praised the city’s preservation director RaShae Jennings who organized the recent cemetery preservation workshop featuring noted cemetery restoration specialist Jason Church from Louisiana.
More than 50 people attended the workshop from three states as well as all across Kentucky. Bryant, who is also cemetery sexton, noted lunch for participants — provided by the Guthrie Opportunity Center — was sponsored by the Kentucky Cemetery Association.
Church demonstrated grave marker cleaning techniques that will clean the stones without damaging them. He also demonstrated repair techniques for broken grave stones.
NEXT UP. The council’s next regular meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
-30-
