When a high-level city official leaves office with a severance package worth more than $160,000, do taxpayers have a right to know why he left? That’s a question facing Richmond Circuit Court.
Carol Wolf is a community activist, a blogger, a former member of Richmond’s school board and a big believer in the First Amendment.
“The Founding Fathers made place at the table of democracy for the press, and they understood the importance of the press in terms of keeping government officials honest.”
When she learned that the city’s chief administrative officer, who earned $181,000 a year, had left without explanation, she wondered why. Twenty-two other people joined Wolf in sending a Freedom of Information request to Mayor Dwight Jones. Members of city council were told they could not be briefed about Byron Marshall’s departure unless they signed a confidentiality agreement. Wolf said she wanted to see that too, but Jones refused both requests.
“He hides under the umbrella of -- it’s a personnel issue. They refused access to the confidentiality agreements, saying those were privileged, because it was attorney client -- an attorney drew up the confidentiality agreements. That’s crazy, because if you go with that than any contract could be exempt from FOIA.”
And, frankly, she says the public is entitled to know what went down.
“I’m old school. If they want to play with the public’s money, they have to play in the sunshine.”
Last week, the city told a circuit court judge that details of Marshall’s departure should be kept secret since the city has a right to resolve disputes privately. Richmond’s mayor claimed Marshall submitted a friendly resignation. The judge did not rule immediately, saying she would schedule another hearing on the matter later this month.
