WESTOVER — Westover City Council members Duane Tatar and Ralph Mullins sparred briefly Monday after Tatar reiterated his request that Mullins produce whatever evidence he has that would warrant an independent investigation into Mayor Dave Johnson and the city’s administration.
Tatar’s comments echoed his remarks from council’s Oct. 18 meeting, when a motion by Mullins to launch the investigation died without a second.
Mullins had asked that an outside party look into claims of abuse of power by the mayor, among other allegations. He claims to have documentation that he’s prepared to turn over to investigators.
“I would like that from him as soon as possible,” Tatar said Monday.
Councilor Steve Andryzcik said he, too, would like Mullins to produce the documentation.
Mullins responded that his phone number is publicly available and that Tatar and Andryzcik could call him at their convenience.
“So does that mean you’re not going to give me the information,” Tatar said. “You’re not going to give me a copy, a paper copy, of everything you have so I can look at it?”
Mullins repeated the invitation for a phone conversation, adding that he didn’t intend to argue with Tatar.
“You’re not going to give it to me because you don’t have anything,” Tatar said.
“Well, that’s not true,” Mullins responded.
“Then give it to me,” Tatar said.
“I’m not giving you anything,” Mullins concluded before the exchange was broken up by Johnson.
During public comments, Westover resident Alli Jackson said he thought councilors were going about the situation backwards, asking for evidence before conducting an investigation.
“That’s what the investigation is for,” Jackson said. “Find out the facts. If there’s nothing there, there’s nothing there. If there is, then maybe council should act on it.”
Andryzcik disagreed.
“The thing is, if you have proof, then there’s no need for an investigation. You have the proof. That’s what investigations do. They provide proof,” Andryzcik said. “What we’d like to see is the evidence that’s going to request the city spend money to do an investigation.”
In other news from Monday’s meeting, Johnson said the city is awaiting signatures from residents of Corwin Place and surrounding properties requesting annexation into the city.
The annexation by petition encompasses approximately 18 acres off DuPont Road and would bring some 44 townhouses and eight homes into the city.
Lastly, council approved the purchase of two snow plows for $12,668.
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