WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — West Palm Beach City Commissioner Richard Ryles told WPTV Contact 5 on Friday he was not given sufficient information by the city to make an informed decision on a proposed $180,000 pre-suit settlement with a former staffer who claimed she had received a graphic photo.
"We don’t have enough facts on any side to make an educated, reasoned decision," Ryles said. "We’re in the dark."
The scandal has implicated the former City Administrator Jeff Green and Willie Perez, the regional director of the security company that was awarded a controversial $7.9 no-bid security contract.
"We do need to look at that contractor, because of this type of lapse of judgment for a security firm gives me great pause," Ryles said.
The former staffer, Sharagay Esposito, showed a picture she received via text message of a man’s private parts. Documents from an internal investigation show the text conversation was between Esposito and Perez. Green was also a recipient of the messages. Mayor Keith James later asked Green to resign.
Ryles said Perez’s involvement has him concerned about the city’s security contract, especially since the mayor announced, after much outrage from the community, that the $7.9 contract would go out for bid after all.
"The contract should have already been terminated," Ryles said. "So, we’re wondering what’s occurring in the administration and what’s taking so long."
Another concern for Ryles is the way commissioners were informed about the settlement and the graphic picture.
"I thought that perhaps the city commissioners should have been given some heads up that this [settlement] was coming down the pike, and for us to learn when the citizens learned. I didn’t necessarily believe that that was the way it should have been handled," Ryles said.
The fact that the settlement was drafted before a lawsuit had been filed, and without informing the commissioners, took Ryles by surprise.
"I’ve been practicing law for almost 30 years and I have never had a pre-suit settlement of this nature, seen one of this nature, done," Ryles said.
The settlement is on Monday’s city council agenda, but Ryles said that, even after speaking with the city's attorney, he has more questions than answers.
"I think that without knowing the full picture, knowing exactly what damages are being claimed, knowing all of the actions that led to the complaint, without any discovery having been conducted, I don’t think that I could make a decision that I would comfortable with on behalf of my constituents," Ryles said.
Ryles hinted that there is more the public doesn’t know at this point.
"We have since learned from the city attorney that there were other instances involving city staff that warranted us at least looking at possibly trying to settle this case pre-suit," Ryles said.
Ryles said he could not elaborate on what other instances there were since it was part of a conversation with the city attorney.
"graphic" - Google News
November 15, 2019 at 12:29PM
https://ift.tt/32TsoZ0
West Palm Beach commissioner on graphic photo scandal: "We're in the dark still." - WPTV.com
"graphic" - Google News
https://ift.tt/32EYpEQ
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment