Nick McWilliams reporting – Dover Councilman Bob Mueller took aim at the city’s administration on Monday night over what he called a poor showing on transparency for recent legal filings.
The city is locked in a legal battle with Dover Chemical Corporation in what it claims to be improper receipt of electric field division equipment and services.
Mueller was noticeably upset over finding out about a recent filing in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court by Dover Chemical with depositions through media reports.
He asked Mayor Shane Gunnoe and other administrations why he, along with others on council, had not been informed of the filing weeks prior when it was first submitted.
“This administration talks about transparency. Yet, we don’t tell people stuff. Only certain people know [certain things.] We don’t communicate. And I don’t think that’s where Dover needs to go.”
Mueller requested all documentation and receipts for legal fees related to the ongoing dispute with the business.
Council President Justin Perkowski offered his own options to Mueller, asking that discussions be held in a scheduled executive session.
“No, this can be discussed right now. Because it’s already made the paper. You had your chance for six weeks to talk to us about it. And you [Perkowski,] the law director, and the mayor didn’t. For a variety of excuses,” Mueller said.
“There’s probably a very good reason, and we will talk about it in executive session. If you can hold your horses until then,” Perkowski replied.
Mueller said that the current administration was not offering the kind of transparency they had promised following the fallout of the Richard Homrighausen theft in office debacle.
Council met in executive session for a lengthy period to discuss pending litigation and the aforementioned legal matters before adjourning. No action was taken.
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