There
’s a striking contrast between the decisions of City Manager Ed
Tewes and City Attorney Helene Leichter in response to the scandal
that rocked Morgan Hill City Hall this summer.
There’s a striking contrast between the decisions of City Manager Ed Tewes and City Attorney Helene Leichter in response to the scandal that rocked Morgan Hill City Hall this summer.
Both Tewes and Leichter were the subjects of nasty gossip, allegedly spread by City Councilwoman Hedy Chang, that led to a bumbling detective hired by Bruce Tichinin, a local private attorney, a questionable closed-door decision to investigate that debacle and a cost to the city – so far – of more than $150,000.
The reprehensible rumors, which were detrimental to the personal and professional reputations of both Tewes and Leichter, also leave a stain on Morgan Hill’s history as well on the reputations of Chang and Tichinin.
To make matters even more interesting, Mayor Dennis Kennedy is recommending to the Council Wednesday that they extend Leichter’s contract an extra year, to Sept. 1, 2006.
Leichter decided to leverage the situation into a settlement with the city that will cost the taxpayers of Morgan Hill more than $50,000. Leichter has agreed not to sue the city for workplace harassment in exchange for a $25,000 check, a $15,000 fee for her attorney, seven additional weeks of vacation this year ($18,489 worth of no work – and the need to hire a stand-in) plus permission to work from home two days a week through December.
Tewes, on the other hand, has decided against a shakedown of Morgan Hill taxpayers because of the alleged rumor-mongering.
“I have not raised any issues that would require a settlement with the city,” Tewes said in an interview with reporter Carol Holzgrafe.
Kennedy said he was “relieved.”
The taxpayers of Morgan Hill, no doubt, are also relieved.
We do not mean to diminish the toll the rumors undoubtedly have had on the personal and professional lives of Leichter and Tewes. And we would not blame either if they opted for litigation against anyone who is alleged to have spread the rumors.
But the taxpayers of Morgan Hill, despite the fact that they’re cutting services and dipping into rainy day funds to balance the budget, still have deeper pockets than private citizens, and therefore probably seem like a more successful target for whatever salve this settlement might bring to Leichter’s wounds.
Thanks to Tewes’ decision, the taxpayers of Morgan Hill will not be forced to pay yet again for this gossip-induced scandal. We’re sure they appreciate that.
We wish Leichter had aimed her litigious threats at those truly responsible for her pain and suffering. That wasn’t the taxpayers of Morgan Hill, however deep their pockets.
We wish we could believe that a settlement topping $50,000 will truly relieve Leichter’s pain and suffering. But we suspect it’s a false cure.
We do believe that Tewes’ decision not to sue the city shows he has the best interests of Morgan Hill’s taxpayers at heart.
