City of Morrison correspondence

8/3/2019 City of Morrison correspondence

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Access, Public

From: Marti Wood [Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 2: 16 PMTo: Access, Public

Subject: OMA request for review

I w ou ld l ike you to r eques t a r ev iew on wha t happened J u l y 1 2 , 2 0 1 1 a t C i t y H a l l dur ing a Histor ic Preservat ionCommi t t ee M e e t i n g . I w a s r e m o v e d b y a p o l i c e of f icer, fo r n o apparen t r e a s o n . T h e of f icer s a i d b e c a u s e th e C i t yA d m i n i s tr a to r sa id t h a t he w as to a r r e s t m e . T his i ssue n e e d s to be add r e s s ed .

Where do we go from here?

Thank you in advance,

RECEIVEDRichard Ayres

Pubic

phone Counselor /

1



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O F F I C E OF TH E A TTO R N E Y G E N E R AL

STATE O F ILLINOIS

Lisa MadiganATTORNEY GENERAL

September 8, 2011

Ms. Melanie T. Schroeder

City C l e r kCity ofMorrison

200 W e s t Main St r e e tMorrison, Illinois 61270

R E : O MA R e q u e s t fo r Rev iew— 2 0 1 1 PAC 1 6 5 5 1

Dear Ms. Schroeder:

W e h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e e n c l o s e d w r i t t e n R e q u e s t f o r R e v i e w f r o m M r . R i c h a r dA y r e s a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e C i t y of M o r r i s o n ' s H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n C o m m i s s io n ( C o m m i s s io n )v i o l a t e d p r o v i s i o n s o f th e O p e n M e e t i n g s A c t ( O M A ) . 5 I L C S 1 2 0 / 1 e t. s e q . ( W e s t 2 0 1 0 ) . I n h isR e q u e s t f o r R e v i e w , M r . A y r e s a l l e g e s t h a t th e C o m m i s s i o n i m p r o p e r l y p r e v e n t e d h im f r o m

attending i t s July 1 2 , 2 0 1 1 , meet ing .

B a s e d o n M r . A y r e s ' a s s e r t i o n , w e h a v e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t f u r t h e r i n q u i r y i sw a r ra n te d in th i s m a t t e r . I n o rd e r to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r th e C o m m i s s i o n v i o l a t e d p r o v i s i o n s ofO M A , w e re q ue s t th a t th e C o m m i s s i o n p r o v i d e u s w i t h a d e t a i l e d w r i t t e n r e s p o n s e to th ea l l ega t i ons se t f o r t h in Mr. A y e r s ' R eques t fo r R e v i e w .

A s r e q u ir e d u n d e r OMA, p l e a s e p r o v i d e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n t o o u r o f fi c e within •s e v e n ( 7 ) w o r k i n g d a y s a f te r r e c e ip t o f t h i s l e t t e r . 5 I L C S 1 2 0 / 3 . 5 ( b ) ( W e s t 2 0 1 0 ) . T h eC o m m i s s i o n ' s a n s w e r m a y t a k e t h e f o r m o f a l e t t e r , b r i e f o r m e m o r a n d u m . A s w e r e v i e w t h i smat te r , we wi l l a d v is e y o u ifwe r e q u i r e addi t ional i n fo rmat ion . Ifyou bel ieve t h a t other

d o c u m e n t s o r in f o rm a t io n w o u l d h e l p u s a s w e re v ie w t h e s e i s s u e s , y o u m a y s u b m i t a d d i t i o n a lrecords or affidavits with th e requested information.

F o r y o u r r e f e r e n c e , t h e r e a re t h r e e p o s s i b l e o u t c o m e s f o r a R e q u e s t f o r R e v i e w .F i r s t , t h e P u b l i c A c c e s s C o u n s e l o r ( P A C ) m a y d e c i d e t h a t n o v i o l a t i o n s h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d w i l ls o i n f o r m th e p u b l i c b o d y a n d r e q u e s t e r . S e c o n d , t h e m a tte r m a y b e r e s o l v e d t h r o u g h i n f o r m a lm e d i a t i o n o r i n f o r m a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n b y s t a f f f r o m t h e P A C ' s o f f i c e . T h i r d , t h e P A C m a y d e c i d et o i s s u e a binding o p i n i o n resolv ing th e R e q u e s t fo r R e v i e w .

5 0 0 S o u t h S e c o n d S t r e e t , S p r i n g f i e ld , I l l in o i s 6 2 7 0 6 • ( 2 1 7 ) 7 8 2 - 1 0 9 0 • TM ( 2 1 7 ) 7 8 5 - 2 7 7 1 • F a x : ( 2 1 7 ) 7 8 2 - 7 0 4 600 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60601 •( 312) 814- 3000•• TTY: ( 312) 814-3374• Fax:( 312) 814- 3806



Ms. Melanie T. Schroeder

September 8, 2011

Page 2

P l e a s e c on ta c t m e a t ( 3 1 2) 814- 6437 ifyou h a v e q u e s t i o n s or would like todiscuss this matter. Thank you.

Very truly you r s ,

TOLA SOBITAN

Assistant Attorney GeneralPublic Access Bureau

Enclosure -

cc: Mr. Richa rd Ayres ( will r e c e i v e l e t te r o n l y )



n r , t ii':,.

I V f.

O F F I C E O F TH E A T T O R N E Y G E N E R A LSTATE O F ILLINOIS

Lisa MadiganATTORNEY GENERAL

September 20, 2011

Mr. R i c h a r d A y e r s

RE : F O IA Reques t fo r Rev i ew— 2 0 1 1 PAC 1 6 5 5 1

Dear Mr. Ayers:

T h e O f fi c e o f th e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , P u b l i c A c c e s s B u re a u , h a s r e c e i v e d th ee n c l o s e d r e s p o n s e t o your R e q u e s t fo r Rev iew f rom th e City o f Morr ison.

Y o u m a y , b u t a r e n o t r e q u i r e d t o , re p ly in w r i t i n g t o t h e p u b l i c b o d y ' s e n c l o s e dr e s p o n s e . If y o u c h o o s e t o r e p l y , y o u m u s t s u b m i t y o u r r e p l y t o t h i s o f f i ce w i t h i n 7 w o r k i n gaysoyourreceiptothis letter. 5 ILCS 140/ 9. 5 ( d) ( West 2010 Supp.) . Please s e n d a c o p y ofyour r e p l y to th e City of M o r r i s o n a s w e l l .

I f y o u h a v e a n y q u e s tio n s a b o u t t h i s m a t t e r , p l e a s e c o n t a c t m e a t ( 3 1 2 ) 8 1 4 - 6 4 3 7 .

Very t ru l y you r s ,

TOLA SOBITAN

Ass i s t a n t A t t o r n e y Ge ne r a lPublic Access Bureau

cc Mr. Jim Wise

C i t y ofM o r r i s o n200 W e s t Main S t r e e t

Morrison, IL 61270

500 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62706 • ( 217) 782. 1090 • TTY: ( 217) 785- 2771 • Fax:( 217) 782-7046



RECEIVEDSeptember 24, 2011

S E P 2 7 2 0 1 1

RE: PAC 16551 Public Access

Request forrevewoOMA Counselor

Ms Sobitan,

My r e q u e s t for r e v i e w s e e m s to h av e g o tte n lo s t in other i s s ues . B e c a u s e of

accusations by Administrator Wise, I w a s removed from a Historical Preservation

M e e t i n g Ju l y 12, 2011 by a po l i c e o f f i c e r . I w as n o t a w a r e ofa n y p r o b l e m ofm e

g o i n g to City Hall for t h a t m e e t i n g a t 5 : 00 p m . Wa s th i s a violation of th e O n e nMeetings Act? How was this legal?

Wa i t i n g for a r e p l y ,

Richard Ayres



Access, Public

From: Marti WoodSent: M o n d a y , September26, 2011 4: 14 PMTo: Access, Public

Subject: OMA request

Attachments: S e p t e m b e r 24 - O MA rep l y .doc ; S e p t e m b e r 24- O M A re p ly 1 . doc

Tola,

Hope these papers he l p yourinvestigation. RECEIVED

Marti Wood and Richard Ayres S E P 27 2 0 1 1

public AccessCounselor



September 25, 2011

RE:PAC 16551

Request for review ofOMA

Ms Sobitan,

I w as in th e e n try w a y on th e outs ide of th e se rv i ce coun te r ofM o rr is o n C i ty H a ll on Ju ly

1 2 , 2 0 1 1 . Wh ile I w a s t h e r e t h e c i ty c le r k , Melan ie S c h r o e d e r , w a s over -ta l k i ng acon v e r s a t i o n I w as h a v i n g w i t h M a y o r D r e y . I d id ask her , " Wh y are y o u a lway s rud e tome?" Sh e s t a t ed , " B e c a u s e you a re r u d e to m e . " I sa i d , " I d on ' t fe e l that I a m r u d e to

you, b u t I g u e s s t ha t is w he re w e s t a n d t h en . " T h e c o n v e r s a t i o n e n d e d . I went to l e a v e .

Thank you,

Richard Ayres

C ity A d m i n is tr a to r Wise d id n o t i n t e rv iew m e abou t th e even t s of th e day, s o this is w ha tI recall of th e e v e n t s ofJuly 12, 2011- Marti Wood

Rich Ay re s and I ca me back f ro m Io w a C i t y o n Ju l y 1 2 , 2 0 1 1 . I was d r i v i ng h im becauseh e was at the Veteran' s Clinic and had his e y e s dilated s o couldn' t s e e to drive. Rich w a s

in th e en t r y w a y on th e outs ide of th e se rv i ce co u n t e r at C i ty H a l l. I w e n t to th e o f f i cearea to p i c k up pape r s an d to ask fo r i n f o r m a t i o n t ha t w as d i s cussed a t th e m e e t i n g th e

n i gh t be f o r e . I w as a sk i n g fo r c o n tr ac ts b e tw e e n R o c k Ri ve r E n e r g y and th e c i ty fo r th eSpor ts C o m p l e x. M e l a n ie Schroede r , c i ty c l e r k , d i dn ' t s eem to k n o w w h a t I w as t a l k i ngabou t . Ri ch sa id s o m e t h i n g l i k e - y o u k n o w M e l a n i e , th e e lec t r i c bi l ls t ha t Ga r y , y ou r s e l f ,

Mar t i , Br i an , and I we re l o o k i n g fo r last s u m m e r . M a y o r D rey and Rich we reh a v i n g a con v e r s a t i o n at th e cou n te r , a ll th e wh i le , Me l a n ie w as o v e r - t a l k i ng t h em w i t hthings like-that' s not what happened, that' s not right, a n d things like that. That is when

Rich asked he r w h y s h e w as r ude to h i m . M a y o r Drey stated tha t w e had a con t ra c t w i t hRock River for the Water department. So I also asked for that contract also.

M e l a n i e sa id she w as v e r y b u s y , s o I o f f e r ed to g et th e con t r a c t s m y s e l f ifshe w o u l d t e l lm e w h e r e to l o o k . She to ld m e tha t w as n o t m y job an d she w o u l d ge t t h em l a t e r .

I w e n t to S h e lly S ib le y ' s d e s k to se t u p a m e e t i n g w i t h m y s e l f an d aresident, to go over some of the finances that I didn' t understand. She said that would be

f i ne and w e w ou l d m e e t th e f o l l ow i ng w e e k due to w a te r bil ls go i n g ou t th is wee k . Wes e t a m e e t i n g u p o n July 20 a t 1 : 0 0 p m . I w e n t to le av e th e office a r e a .

No one in the office area s e e m e d upset at this time.

T h a t is w h e n th e C ity A d m in i s tr a to r , J im Wis e c a m e o u t of h is office an d ask ed m e to go

t o h is off ice. J im Wise, s t a t e d t h a t h e is di rect ly r e s p o n s i b l e fo r t h e h e a l t h , s a f e t y , a n dwefareothe empoyees. He didn' t tell youthat whenI went to leave theofficethat d a y ,



t h a t h e , h i m s e l f , c a l l e d m e in h is o f f i c e , s h u t th e d o o r , a n d w a s s p e a k i n g w i t h m e a s toi n t i m i d a t e m e . H e w a n t e d t o k n o w " w h o w a s d r i v i n g m y t r a i n ? " w h y w a s I a s k i n g s oma n y q u e s t i o n s a n d I to ld h im t h e r e s i d e n t s wan t t ru thfu l a n s w e r s a b o u t t h e c i ty . I d o n o tk n o w w h y h e w a s bul ly ing m e . H e t r e a t e d m e v e ry c o n d e s c e n d in g ly a n d i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y .I didn' t know whoto talk toabou this.... s o I wa i t ed . Well , th is h a s been ve r y s t r ess fu lfo r m e to have to w o r k wi t h s om eon e w ho tre ate d m e l i ke that. What do I do abou tthat.... closed door..... no wtnesses???If I wou ld h a v e k no wn ho w h e was go i ng to t reatm e , I would n e v e r h a v e g o n e i n t o h is off ice a n d le t h im c lo s e th e d o o r . H e r ea lly b li nd -s id e d m e ! T he r e s t of th e m e e t i n g is a b lu r and I l e f t th e o f f i c e , s t un n ed . I am st i l l u p se tabout this.

While all this w a s going o n , Rich s a t down in t h e ent ryway to wai t fo r m e . H e overhearda co nve r sa t i o n b e t w e e n ChiefM e l t o n an d M e l a n i e Sc h r oede r . B r i a n M e l t o n as k e d

Me la n i e w h a t w as go i n g on . Sh e said t ha t Mar t i Wo o d w a n t e d t hese con t rac t s an d w a n t e d

to g e t them he r se l f a n d i t w as n ot h e r job . Brian said w hy d idn ' t s h e ( Melan i e ) j us t givethem to m e ( Mart i ) a n d wha t w a s s h e ( Mart i ) go ing to d o wi th t hem . Melan ie d idn ' t

k n o w , but was ve r y u p s e t a s to wha t Mar t i wan ted them for . Then Brian no t i ced Rich inth e entryway a n d th e c o n v e r s a t i o n s t o p p e d a n d h e r e tu r n e d d o w n s t a ir s .

IfMelanie w a s s o u p s e t and f e l t t h r e a t e n e d a b o u t R ic h a t th e t i m e , w h y d idn ' t s h e te l lBrian t o t a k e c a r e ofth e prob lem? W h y didn' t s h e h a v e R i c h r e m o v e d f rom City Ha l lt h e n? Sh e w a s n ' t c ry in g t h e n , she s e e m e d m o re up se t a b o u t Marti' s r eques t s . Sh e d i d n ' teven mention Rich to Brian.

A b o u t t ha t t i m e , I l e f t A d m i n is t r a to r Wise ' s o f f i c e . Rich and I ran e r rands an d w e n t to s e e

Rich' s m o m a t th e n u r s i n g h o m e . It w a s g o i n g o n 4 : 3 0 p m s o w e h e a d e d fo r Ci ty Ha l l t oa t t e n d t h e His tor ic P r e s e r v a t i o n Commiss ion Mee ting pe r ta in i ng to t h e Nat iona l

H i s t o r i c a l R e g i s t r y w e w e r e in te re s te d in . W e m e t a r e s id e n t , o u t s i d e cityhal l . We a ll e n te r ed th e bu i l d i n g together . .

N o n e o f t h e w o m e n of f ice p e r s o n n e l w e r e p r e s e n t ( t h e y a r e o f f a t 4 : 0 0 p m ) Richa n d I h e a d e d into t h e m e e t in g r o o m . Admin i s t ra tor W is e stern ly s a i d h e n e e d e d t o s e eme . I f e l t at tacked fo r a s e c o n d t ime that day by Admin is t ra to r Wise. He to ld m e I h a d tot e l l Rich to le a ve th e bu i l d i n g . I asked w h y . H e said I s en t you a n ema i l . I to ld h im I

h a d n ' t b e e n h o m e s o d idn ' t know what h e w a s ta lk i ng about. We h a d n o i nc l i na t ion uponr e t u r n i n g to C i ty H a l l t ha t a ny on e w as n o t a l l o w e d to be t h e r e . I to ld h im ifhe h a d a

p r o b l e m with R i ch he n e e d e d to add r e s s R i ch himself s i nce he w as r i g h t h e r e .

Admin is t ra to r Wise w e n t a n d g o t Rich f rom t h e m e e t in g r o o m . H e p r o c e e d e d to te l l Richh e w a s t o l e a v e t h e b u i l d i n g o r h e w o u l d h a v e h im a r r e s t e d . R i c h a s k e d h im w h y . H es a id , " B e c a u s e I s a i d s o . " R i c h s a i d , " I c h a l l e n g e y o u r d e c i s i o n a n d I a m g o i n g t o th emeeting." Rich r e e n t e r e d t h e m e e t i n g room t o a t te n d t h e m e e t i n g .

A fe w minu t e s in to t h e mee t i n g , Of f i c e r Workman c a m e to th e room an d a sk ed Rich to

l e a v e w i t h h i m . R i c h c o m p lie d . H e a s k e d th e o f f i c e r w h y h e w a s b e i n g a r r e s t e d . H e s a i dbecause the administrator was wlling to press charges ofCriminal Trespass to Prope r t y if



h e ( Rich) d id n o t l e a v e t h e bui ld ing. Rich a s k e d h i m , w h at d id I d o ? ( Rich a s k e d fo r apolice report.Officer Workman said hecoudget it the nextday . . . . n o t a t city hall s i n c e

h e was no t to b e there . H e f inal ly got t h e repor t o n Fr iday ( af te r severa l at tempts ) f romC h i e f Melton a t t h e W h it e s id e C o u n ty Sherif f ' s d e p a r t m e n t . T h e r e p o r t real ly d i d n ' t s t a t ewhat R i c h h a d d o n e t o b e c h a r g e d with Cr im ina l T r e s p a s s t o P r o p e rt y o r why.) T h e

explanat ion that Admin i s t ra to r Wise g a v e t o Rich w a s " B e c a u s e I s a i d s o " . Th e meet inge n d e d an d e v e r y o n e l e f t th e b u ild in g w i th no ar res t .

An e m a i l to m e d o e s no t const i tute con ta c ti ng R ich Ayres . Admin i s t r a to r W is e shou ld

h a v e actual ly c o n ta c t e d R i c h b y p h o n e o r s o m e o t h e r m e a n s ofcommunica t ion ifh e w a sn o t al lowed to b e a t City Ha l l . W e d id n o t attend th e Histor ic P r e s e r v a t io n m e e t in g t oevade A d m i n is t r a to r Wise' s re q ue s t to le a ve c i ty ha l l . W e we re t he re for i n f o r m a t i o n .

Iam n o t sure w ho had i nappropr ia te a n d b oo ris h b e ha v io r. If e e l a l a ck ofc o m m u n i c a t i o n o c c u r r e d be tween all pa r t i e s . Ifa p r o p e r i n ves t i ga t i on w as p e r f o r m e d ,everyone that was in the office that date shouldhave b e e n asked what had happened...not

a s e l e c t f e w . Richard Ayres, R o g e r Drey , Melanie S c h r o e d e r , Barb K ing , Shelly Sibley,Marti Wood , a n d B r i a n Me l t on we r e in th e o ff ic e a re a a n d se r v i c e c o u n t e r . J im Wise w a s

in h is o f f i ce during th e a l l e g e d t i m e f r a m e .

As fo r t h e mee t i ng o n Augus t 4 , 2 0 1 1 , M ay o r D re y s t a r t e d off t h e mee t i n g wi th a dia logofv e r y c o n d e s c e n d i n g p u t d o w n s on Rich and m e . I d id ta pe th e m e e t i n g . 1 will b ewilling to mail you a c o p y for th e r e c o r d ifn e e d e d .

H o p e f u l l y , th i s will c l a r i f y s o m e of th e i s sues a t han d . It w o u l d be n ic e to ge t it a ll inperspective and be treated with respect.

Thank you,

Alderman, Marti Wood



09/ 16/ 2611 15: 18 1857724291 CITY OF MORRISON PAGE 01/ 04

20 0 W e s t Me in S t r e e tMonbon. II.81270

815.772-8247 Morrison, IL8157724291

www.morrison. 1 1 arg

RECEIVED

S E P 19 2011

Fa Public Access

Counselor

To TOIASODETANFrontJim Wise

Paso 312814-3806Pages: 4bwludlny cover

Phone: 3124114-3374Date: September 16, 2011

Re: PAC 18561co

0 Urgent 0For Review 0Please Comment 0 Please Reply 0 Please Recycle

Ms. Sobltan,

Th i s is m y r e p l y to y ou r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e of S e p t e m b e r 8 , 2 01 1.

vr

JimWse



09/ 16/ 2011 15: 18 1857724291 CITY OF MORRISON PAGE 02/ 04

CITY OF MOSON200 West ManStreet r

Morrison, Illinois61270- 2400' j % IiPhone: 815- 772- 7657

Fax: 815. 772-4291

tnorrisonl.org Of f i ce of

Jam Wi se • C i ty Adm i n fn t a to r

Tola Sobitan

A s s is t a n t A tto r n e y G e n e r a lPublic Access Bureau

September 16, 2011

RE: PAC 16551

Ms. Sobitan:

We a re in re c e ip t o f y ou r S e p t e m b e r 8 , 2011, c o r r e s p o n d e n c e . T h a n k y o u a lso

fo r t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to d iscuss t h e i s s u e s w i t h m e o n S e p t e m b e r 1 2 . A s I i n d i c a t e d In

ou r te l e p h o ne c o n v e r s atio n th e City t a kes i t s ob l igat ions u nd e r the O pe n Mee t i ngs Ac t

s e r i o u s l y a n d e n d e a v o r s t o b e v i g i l a n t o n t h e s e I s s u e s , T h e C i t y a l s o t a k e s s e r io u s lyi t ' s obl igat ion to p r ov id e e m p l oy e e s with a safe a n d p ro fess iona l w o rk e n v iro n m e n t .

I n r e ga r ds to th e s p e c if ic c o n c e rn s e x p re s s e d in y ou r le tte r , w e re s p on d asfollows.

The City be l i eves , a t th e t ime it made th e dec is ion to re q ue s t t ha t Mr. Aye rs l eave

th e His to r ic Prese rva ti on C o m m i s s i o n , that t h e d e c is io n w a s m ade in a g o o d faith ef fort

to a d d r e s s a v a l i d c o n c e r n . B a c k g r o u n d s o f th e e v e n t s o n J u l y 1 2 t h , a s w e ll a s th el a y o u t o f th e C i t y H a l l B u i l d i n g , a r e im p o r ta n t to u n d e rs ta n d in g th e C i t y ' s c o n d u c t .

M o r r i s o n I s a s m a ll c o m m u n ity i n N o r t h w e s t I l l i n o i s . T h e C ity H a ll b u i l d i n g a n do f f i c e s a r e f a i r ly c o m p a c t in s i z e . E m p l o y e e w o r k a r e a s a n d d e s k s a r e im m e d ia t e lya d j a c e n t to t h e m e e t in g / c o n fe r e n c e r o o m ; w h e r e m a n y of t h e C i t y 's c o m m i t t e e ' s a n dc o m m i s s i o n h o l d their m e e t i n g s . T h e m e e t in g a r e a is a l s o w i t h in m e r e f ee t of t h e d e s ko f t h e C i t y C l e rk . W e c a n f u rn i s h p ic tu r e s o f t h e a r e a , i f t h e y a r e n e e d e d .

D u r i n g th e e a r ly a f te rn o o n o f J u l y 1 2 " ' , I w a s a p p r o a c h e d , i n m y c a p a c i t y a s C i t yA d m in i s t ra t o r , b y C it y C l e r k , M e l a n i e S c h r o e d e r . M e la n ie r e la t e d c o n c e r n s to m e a b o u t

M r. A y e rs ' b e h a v i o r w h ile h e w a s i n th e C ity H a l l o ff ic e a re a e a r l i e r i n th e d a y . T h eC l e rk a d v is e d s h e f e lt th re a te n e d b y h is a c t i o n s a n d t h a t h is c o n d u c t im p a c t e d h e r

e m o t i o n a l l y a n d h a d c a u s e d h e r to b re a k d o w n a n d c r y . A s C i t y A d m i n i s t r a t o r , I a md i r e c tly r e s p o n s i b le f o r th e h e a l t h , s a f e t y a n d w e l f a r e o f th e e m p l o y e e s . T h i s m a t t e rconcerned me and I i m m e d i a t e l y investigated.



W/ 16/ 2011 15: 18 1857724291 CITY OF MORRISON PAGE 03/ 04

CITY OF MORNSON200 West Main Street It

7_ "'' 7rMorrson, Illinos61270- 2400' rJ '. I I, !

Phone: 815- 772- 7637

Fax; 815- 772. 4291

morrison.org Of f i ce of

JimWise• C i ty A d m i n u t n m r

F rom m y i n v e s t i g a t i o n I w a s ab le to d e te rm in e th a t w h i le M r. A y e r s w a s p r e s e n t

In C i ty H a ll h e w a s p e r c e i v e d b y e m p l o y e e s o f th e C i ty a s ac t i n g be l l i g e r e n t a n d

c o n d e s c e n d i n g . Fu r t h e r , th a t fe m a le e m p l o y e e s h a d f e l t t h r e a t e n e d by h is b e h a v i o r . A t

th e t i me I c o m p le te d m y in v e s tig a tio n M r. Ay e rs w a s n o t p r e s e n t I n th e C ity H a ll

bu i l d i ng . M r. A y e r s , h o w e v e r , r e t u r n e d to C ity H a ll late in th e a f t e r n o o n . I r e m a i n e dconcerned about further incident, or possible escalation of the previous conduct; and

w as u ps et o ve r h is unpro f ess iona l t r e a tmen t o f City e m p l o y e e s . Acco rd ing ly , upon h is

r e e n tr y in to Ci ty Hal l I pol i te ly ask ed Mr. Ayers if he w o u ld p le a s e l eave th e b u ild in g . Mr.

Ayers r e f u s e d to le a v e a t m y r e q u e s t a n d th e n e n te re d th e H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o nC o m m i s s i o n m e e t in g ; w h i c h w a s in th e r o om I m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t to th e C i t y

employees' o ff ic e a re a . I a m u na w a re of a n y a c t u a l b u s i n e s s M r. Ayers h a d with the .

C o mm i t t e e on th at d a y and he appea r ed to e n te r th e m e e tin g so le ly to a vo id m y r e ques tto exit th e b u i l d i n g ; w h ic h re q u e st w a s m a d e d ue to h is u n p r o fe s s io n a l c o n d u c t e a r lie r In

th e da y . As Mr. Aye r s r e f u s ed m y r e q u e s t to l e ave ass i s t ance w a s r e q u e s t e d by m e o f

th e Pol ice D epa r t m en t . An o ff ic e r r eques t ed t ha t Mr. Ayers le a ve th e bu i ld ing an d hedid so without further incident.

M r. Ay e rs w a s a s k e d to le a v e C ity H a ll d ue to h is a t t i t u de a n d c o n d u c t earlier in

th e d ay to w a rd s e m p lo ye e s of th e C i t y . If y o u d e s i r e , o r n e ed to i n v e s t i g a t e further,

t h es e ind iv idua ls can be m a d e ava i lab le to d is cu ss th e m a tte r. I t w as n o t m y i n t en t to

dep r i v e Mr. Aye r s o f a ny r ig ht to at tend th e His to r i c Prese r va t i on C o m m is s io n m e e t in g ,

but ra ther s im p ly to a dd re s s c on ce rn s express by emp l o y e e s o f th e C i ty th at d ayregarding their perceptions ofMr. Ayers boorish and inappropriate behavior. It was also

m y p e r c e p tio n , th a t day , t ha t he e n te re d th e me e t i n g fo r th e so le pu r po se o f evad i ng m yrequest to le a ve C i ty Ha l l .

O n A u g u s t 4, Mr. Aye rs s p ok e w ith both th e M ay or o f th e Ci ty o f Morr ison andm e r e g a r d i n g t h i s i n c i d e n t . H e w a s a d v i s e d w h y th e a c tio n h a d t a k e n p l a c e a n d o f t h eC i t y 's c on c e rn s o ve r h is t r e a t m en t o f Ci ty e m p l o y e e s . H e w as also adv i s ed that " ii he

w o u ld tr e a t p e o p le th e w a y th a t y o u w a n t to b e tr e a te d . T h e n th is w o u ld n o t h a v e

h a p p e n e d , " M r. A y e r s i n f o r m e d th e M ay or a nd m e t h a t he f e l t th e m a t t e r ha d b e e n p u tto rest. Mr. Ayerswasalso advised, du r i n g the August

4h

meeting, that h e was

w e l c o me to atte nd an y/ a ll mee t i ngs o f th e City an d the C ity h a d no i ssue w ith s uc h

a t t e n d a n c e . H e w a s e n c o u r a g e d , h o w e v e r , to r e f r a in f r o m b e in g d i s r u p t i v e a n dr e q u e s t e d to t r e a t C i t y e m p l o y e e s In a p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d r e s pe c t f u l m a n n e r . H e h a s ,sncethat date, attended meetings held in C i t y Hall, without further Incident.



fl9/ 16/ 2811 15: 18 1857724291 CITY OF MORRISON PAGE 04/ 04

CITY OF MOSON200 Wost Main Stroet r - `jMorrson, Illinois61270- 2400 L. L

Phone: 815. 772- 7657

Fax: 815- 772- 4291

morrison.org Office of

Jim Wise• C i t y A dadn i s aa t o r

I t r u s t t h a t th i s r e sp o n s e s h ou ld sa t i s f y y o u r i n q u i r y . If y ou r e q u ire a ny f u r t h e rinformation please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

m Wise

Administrator, C i t y ofMorison, IL

City of Morrison correspondence

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