It's unclear just what was accomplished by a special City Council meeting Wednesday, but one thing seems certain: Mayor Jess Green will not resign or be removed from office.
Council members Rick Storrs and John McKinney, at the request of residents, called Wednesday's meeting to discuss "actions of the mayor." The Utah County city of 20,000 has been abuzz since last month over a letter Green wrote to a judge in February requesting leniency for convicted drunken driver Jim Hindley.Most residents and council members who spoke Wednesday condemned the mayor for trying to use his office to get house arrest for Hindley instead of jail time. Some residents called for the mayor to step down in the wake of the controversy.
"You wrote that letter on American Fork city letterhead," resident Carol Fisher told Green. "That was wrong. I think the only thing you could do as a decent mayor is step down."
Several petitions expressing similar sentiments have been circulating in American Fork in recent days, and they were presented to the council Wednesday.
However, Green said he will not resign, and even members of the council who would like to seem him out of office acknowledged they can do little to force the issue. State law has no provision for a recall election or expulsion except in the case of illegal activity.
Wednesday's meeting was largely a rehashing of old issues and a public venting session. It was also unique in that one assertive resident took over for some time, directing comments and polling council members on their sentiments from his position in the rear of the crowded council chambers.
Also, Utah County deputy sheriffs were called in to provide security for the meeting. That was necessary because part of what was to be discussed concerned Green's ongoing battle with Police Chief John Durrant and his department of 30 employees.
Besides the assurance that Green is determined to remain in office at least until his term expires in January, concrete results to emerge from the meeting include:
- Green will turn over to the state Attorney General's Office any evidence he possesses about misconduct in the police department. Presumably, the Attorney General's Office will conduct an investigation of Green's allegations, which include sexual harassment and using excessive force on minors.
- Green will provide any evidence he possesses about misconduct by McKinney to the Attorney General's Office, while McKinney will do the same with any evidence he possesses about malfeasance by the mayor.
- Green, Durrant and city administrator Carl Wanlass will meet privately with several residents who have said they were mistreated by American Fork police officers. Independent investigations of the allegations are planned.
- While recognizing that some could find his letter on Hindley's behalf objectionable, Green stopped short of apologizing or calling his action wrong.
"I had no interest in being soft on a drunk driver," Green said. He didn't elaborate.
However, several residents and representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving characterized Green's letter as a gross misuse of power. Repeated demands for Green's dismissal, however, will apparently not be satisfied.
Since Green probably did nothing illegal, the letter has no real effect other than leaving a sour taste in the mouths of residents whose stomachs have been upset for some time over Green's handling of personnel matters and his perceived vendetta against the city's police officers.
"I can see lawsuits coming over harassment . . . of the police department and members of the council," said resident Doug Jensen.
The relationship between Green and American Fork police has already caused a federal civil rights lawsuit to be filed. That suit, coupled with several others residents say are Green's fault, have helped increase the city's annual legal costs more than five times, Wan-lass said.
"The big saying around the community is, `I'm going to sue,' " said councilman Grant Parker. "All I can say is, `Get in line.' "
For many residents, Wednesday's meeting generated at least as many new questions as it did answers for old questions. The bevy of investigations could take months to complete, dragging out conflicts that are already several years old. Many residents are just plain frustrated.
"I feel ashamed of the situation we've had the last three-and-a-half years," said Mel Franson. "I think the reason for all this controversy is lack of leadership."