The Trenton City Council has asked that a complaint be filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission against Mayor Gary Hall as the result of an alleged conflict of interest uncovered by administrators of the city?s Community Development Block Grant program.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
he Trenton City Council has asked that a complaint be filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission against Mayor Gary Hall as the result of an alleged conflict of interest uncovered by administrators of the city?s Community Development Block Grant program.
On a 7-1 vote, the council on Monday night requested the complaint be filed and that the council officially go on record condemning the mayor?s actions, which the motion stated were ?in direct violation of CDBG rules.? Dr. Nick McHargue was the only councilman to vote no on the motion, which was made by Kenneth Ewing and seconded by Larry Crawford.
A second motion, asking that the mayor resign, was defeated on a 3-5 vote. Jackie Soptic, Don Peyton and Ewing voted in favor while Dr. McHargue, Steve Perry, Gary Hurst, Troy Smith and Crawford were opposed.
Lisa Colson of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, who serves as administrator for the city?s block grant, said the conflict of interest issue was brought to the RPC?s attention last week. According to information provided by RPC Executive Director Randy Railsback, Mayor Hall had entered into a contract with the owner of a property who was having a structure torn down through the block grant program with the intention of purchasing the property for his own use. It was noted that Hall was making payments to the owner, Ron Peterie, and that a deed to the property would have been granted to Hall once all the money had been paid. The property is located near Mayor Hall?s residence.
According to Mrs. Colson, elected officials may not, in any way, receive any benefit from CDBG funds that are being administered for the entity being served by that official. In this particular instance, Mrs. Colson noted that because there was a possibility of a conflict of interest, she was required to notify CDBG officials, who asked that the monies involved ($2,532.72 plus the $500 the owner paid for the demolition work) be paid back to CDBG. Mrs. Colson said the money has been paid back by Mayor Hall and that CDBG is not expected to take any other action concerning this incident.
Mayor Hall said he was unaware there was a problem with the property purchase, although two city officials, City Administrator Kerry Sampson and building inspector Jim Linville, said they had talked with Hall about the potential conflict. The mayor said he did not intentionally violate the rules, stating he didn?t think that ?any of us would do anything to keep grant money from coming to the city.?
Dr. McHargue said he felt that the mayor had been open about his attempted purchase of the property, although several councilmen indicated they had not been aware that the property was part of the block grant program.
Railsback noted that had the conflict been brought to the RPC earlier, it could have been dealt with immediately. As for any effect the issue might have on future block grants for the city, Railsback said he was unsure, but added that the possibility does exist that this incident could be taken into consideration at the state level when other grants are sought by the city.
As for the resignation request, Ewing noted that he wanted to let the CDBG officials know the city was serious in regard to how it would deal with conflict of interest matters. He said he thought it would put the city ?in the best possible light? with the CDBG program if the mayor resigned.
Smith said he would like to see an opinion from the Ethics Commission before he could make a decision as to whether or not to ask the mayor to resign.
Sampson said this morning that the city staff would be putting together the complaint information, which would then be forwarded to the Missouri Ethics Commission for its consideration. It would then be left to the commission as to any other action that might be taken as a result of the complaint.