Marsala's loan request, Elizabeth Lewis getting into a fight with an Atherton resident and Jerry Carlson ducking one meeting, only to blame City staff for going forward with the meeting at the Mayor's directive.
Next week the City Council will approve a resolution of commendation for my service to the Town.
I will frame this resolution of commendation. It will hang on the wall of my office alongside with another award I received while in service to the Town of Atherton.
In 2004 I was awarded the League of Merit by the Atherton Civil Interest League. This certificate was signed by then ACIL president Jerry Carlson.
I find it fitting and deeply satisfying that Mayor McKeithen and Jerry Carlson, two members of the Audit Committee, two members of the Finance Committee would agree that I was a capable servant, that I am an honorable man.
To the best of my knowledge I will receive an honor that those who tried to discredit me have not received. Not Protzman, not Brennan, not Marsala.
The Town of Atherton will also write me a check for $225,000 in back pay (net of my earnings after having left Atherton) and for my attorney's fees.
More significantly, the Town of Atherton has left the door open for me to return to its employment should a suitable job become open and to speek freely about my experience.
In short, the Town of Atherton, after having paid its own legal counsel $400,000 will be paying my legal counsel $135,000 for doing what it should have done all along.
Atherton should have long ago said goodbye to me on amicable terms. It should have said that it was welcome to have me come back.
Who is to blame for this small financial disaster, this loss of face?
The answer is simple. It is Jerry Carlson. Mr. Carlson has, for the past two years been the swing vote on the City Council.
Mr. Carlson's vote counted more than every one else's.
Mr. Carlson subjected me to the wrath of the powers that control this Town when he called for an audit of the Building Department and when I stepped forward to answer that call.
Mr. Carlson soon disavowed the one act of political courage he exercised on the part of the Town.
Mr. Carlson, betrayed me. In doing so, Jerry Carlson betrayed the principles of what I thought he stood for, transparency and accountability.
Instead of having the courage to do the right thing, Mr. Carlson prolonged the inevitable.
Mr. Carlson is guilty of more than an occsasional lapse of judgement. Mr. Carlson has brought discredit upon this Town because he has chosen to remain in denial.
If Mr. Carlson chooses to run again to keep his seat on the Council, he does not deserve your vote.
I urge you to give Mr. Carlson the boot, along with Mr. Marsala.
It is time that someone who is worthy of your trust, holds the office of City Council.
I would sincerely like the Town of Atherton to become a Town that people actually think highly of.
I would like to display the awards I received from the Town with pride.
