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Home My WebLink About2025-08-25 25-258 Order CITY COUNCIL ACTION 08/25/2025 25-258 �� ,i� " ,� Council Meeting Date: 08/25/2025 � � ^''�� Item No: 25-258 �c+ � ��'�� e'""� � �`��",�� ,�� Responsible Dept: CiryCouncil �``�ar�..�,��; ' Requested Action: Order Map/Lot: N/A Title, Order Censuring City Councilor Joseph Leonard For Inappropriate Public Remarks Concerning A City Personnel Matter Summary This Order would censure Councilor Joseph Leonard for inappropriate public remarks made at the May 7, 2025 City Council Budget Workshop. At the May 7th Budget Workshop, Councilor Leonard made inappropriate public remarks regarding a City personnel matter which deprived a City employee the right to have complaints conducted confidentially under state law, and acted outside the scope of his authority as a City Councilor by stepping into an area the City Charter and the City Code specifically reserve for the City Manager as administrative head of the City. Section 33-1 of the City's Code of Ethics requires that City Councilors maintain a standard of conduct that will inspire public confidence in the integrity of the City's government, and Councilor Leonard's remarks also fell well short of this standard of conduct. City Councilors are expected to refrain from criticizing employees publicly, and to make such criticism to the appropriate City Council appointee or Human Resources Director for investigation and action if necessary. Committee Action Committee: Meeting Date: Action: Recommend for passage For: Against: Staff Comments &Approvals �� .��?� City Manager City Solicitor Finance Director Introduced for: New Business ��i�;�,��.�� CITY OF BANGOR ORDER 08/25/2025 25-258 rl� � �� Date: 08/25/2025 r, � � � � ��^� Item No: 25-258 ��;� m. � �°��.,�,��.;�'�� Assigned to Councilor: Fournier Censuring City Councilor Joseph Leonard For Inappropriate Public Remarks Concerning A City Personnel Matter WHEREAS, at the May 7, 2025 City Council Budget Workshop, City Councilor Joseph Leonard made inappropriate public remarks regarding a City personnel matter; and WHEREAS, Councilor Leonard's remarks deprived a City employee the right to have complaints conducted confidentially under state law (see 30-A M.R.S. §405(6)(A)(1) and 30-A M.R.S. §2702(1)(B)(5)); and WHEREAS, in making such public remarks, Councilor Leonard acted outside the scope of his authority as a City Councilor by stepping into an area specifically reserved by the City Charter at Article VII, Sec. 6 and by the City Code at §28-21 for the City Manager as administrative head of the City; and WHEREAS, Section 33-1 of the City's Code of Ethics requires that City Councilors maintain a standard of conduct that will inspire confidence in the integrity of the City's government, and Councilor Leonard's public remarks fell well short of this standard of conduct; and WHEREAS, City Councilors are expected to refrain from criticizing employees publicly, and to make such criticism to the appropriate City Council appointee or Human Resources Director for investigation and action if necessary. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT, City Councilor Joseph Leonard is hereby formally censured for his inappropriate public comments made at the May 7, 2025 Bangor City Council Budget Workshop regarding a City personnel matter. IN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 25, 2025 CO 25-258 Motion made and seconded for Passage Motion made and seconded on the question of whether or not this procedure is proper under the Code of Ethics to require a hearing. Vote: 6—3 Councilors Voting Yes: Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Tremble, Pelletier Councilors Voting No: Beck, Leonard, Mallar Passed Brian Wright, Hilari Simmons, Scott Pardy, and Wendy Dana spoke against the motion. Gretchen Schaefer and Justin Cartier spoke in favor of the Order. Motion made and seconded to Postpone until September 8, 2025, to hold a public hearing Vote: 3 —6 Councilors Voting Yes: Beck, Leonard, Mallar Councilors Voting No: Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Tremble, Pelletier Motion Failed Councilor Leonard stated he made a sincere apology and if he could go back he would not be as bombastic and go through the right channels but did apologize for the things he said. He felt if he had had a hearing to go over what had been said it would come out in a different light. He feels his right to freedom of speech and due process has been violated. Councilor Leonard left the meeting. Vote on motion for Passage: 6—2 Councilors Voting Yes: Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Tremble, Pelletier Councilors Voting No: Beck, Mallar Passed ��:,w�,��° '" .�� °,„�,��"��,°��*°.�� CITY CLERK