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In a 4-2 vote, the Shelbyville City Council voted to fire city manager Ed Craig Thursday evening.
But the question remains: Why?
Following 30 minutes of comment from the public about Craig and the job he has done as city manager, councilman Al Stephenson made a motion to "request that the City Manager's resignation to be made effective immediately..."
The resignation would be "subject to him receiving continuing pay and benefits as an employee for six months, at which time he may retire from active employment under the City's pension plan."
Council person Kay Rose voted no, stating that she was saddened how the issue had divided the community.
"Some of you know how I stand and you no longer speak to me, but I vote no."
The vote continued without comment, with Stephenson voting yes, Jo Ann Holland voting no and Thomas Landers, Jean Pruitt and Lee Roy Cunningham voting yes.
Craig comments
Reading from a prepared statement, Craig said he was proud that he had served longer than any city manager in Shelbyville's history.
He said his was not an easy job and that the person who holds it "is the enforcer; he wears a target on his back."
"It has been my experience that some people believe that rules are fine, except when they apply to them," Craig said, "or when they require some action that they do not agree with. Or they don't agree with the rules, and therefore they or others shouldn't have to comply with them.
"I do not share those views, and these people have not regarded me as their friend."
Craig said he was proudest of the fact that "now the expectation exists that the rules of the city will be applied as they exist regardless of who you are, and not that who you are determines how the rules apply."
He said the city had made great strides in the past nine years, with equipment, finances, employee benefits, information technology, and planning.
"I do not claim all the credit for this progress; I only claim to be part of a team that has worked to be better, to make Shelbyville better," Craig said.
Craig said he serves at the pleasure of the council and had no choice but to accept its decision and would resign immediately.
He singled out recorder Betty Lamb, treasurer Gary Cantrell, purchasing official Lori Sadler and public works director Mark Clanton for special praise in thanking those he served with.
"I appreciate the opportunity I have had to serve our community, as my father did before me," Craig said.
Story will come out
Holland said following the vote that the matter was over with and the city needed to forget about Craig, "He's going to be fine, he's a smart man, he'll find a new job and life will go on."
"As of now, we need to think what is best for the city," she said.
Landers said he had no comment following the vote, while Cunningham stated that he was glad it was all over with.
"I've got no hard feeling against Ed Craig, I shook his hand after the vote. I've got nothing against him, but this has been a long time coming."
Cunningham also added that "we didn't break the Sunshine Law" with last week's letter that demanded Craig's termination.
City attorney Ginger Shofner told council members that their action last Monday was a violation of the state's open meeting law, also known as the Sunshine Law, and that any action concerning Craig would have to take place in a public meeting.
However, councilman Stephenson said when "things die down, he will answer the question that was on most citizens' minds -- why was Craig let go.
"Everybody doesn't know everything that's been going on up here, someday when this all dies down, I'm going to sit down and talk with you," Stephenson told the T-G.
"Right now, I want to let things cool down and get back in progress and get things going," he said. "But there are a lot of citizens in this community who don't know why we did what we did and I want to say it, but it will have to be at a later date."
Public speaks
The first of Thursday's meeting went swiftly, with the few agenda items handled with little comment, but then the public had their say.
Mayor Wallace Cartwright laid down ground rules for the comments, saying that no slanderous statements or speculative remarks would be permitted.
The first question came from Jim O'Dell, who asked from the audience why Craig was being fired, but no answer came from the council.
Thirteen citizens spoke on the matter, with seven supporting Craig and six who did not.
Several of those who spoke against Craig claimed he had been rude to them during interactions with city government or had publicly berated them in meetings.
George Clanton said that Craig needed to do his job or hit the road, saying the he had told him "lies on top of lies."
Robert Bushnell, who is suing the city of Shelbyville over wrecker calls, said that Craig is responsible for multiple lawsuits against the city and that he had deprived him of his rights. Bushnell owns and operates Quality Collision Center.
But O'Dell told the council that Craig was the most qualified manger that Shelbyville had ever had and he accused Stephenson and Cunningham of having a hidden agenda.
Albert Caffey said that it was his belief that what was taking place was illegal and would "open up a can of worms." Carl Bailey also said he was worried that the action that council was taking may result in lawsuits.
Lucy Taylor stated that Craig was an inspiration in bringing the foreign born communities, such as the Hispanics and Somalis, to become more a part of the city and was concerned that Craig's replacement might not be as helpful.
Comments
A great day for our town!
Second that! Perhaps our city will become more proactive in coping with growth rather than being in a constant struggle to catch up...
3rd to that. Thanks to Mr.Landers and Leroy for not holding nothing back and doing what is best the Shelbyville.
OHHH noooo !!
You mean we wont be paying 3 or 4 times the appraised value for property that only legal filing fees should have been spent ???
yea that's a start...
yea that's a start...
-- Posted by Dianatn on Thu, Oct 8, 2009, at 11:33 PM
Rec Center 70 to 80 thousand lost? WHO'S Next
Yeah, this is a good move on Shelbyville's part. Hopefully they will find someone more competent for the job.
I heard John Sullivan is looking for a job???
The wolves have devoured little red riding hood, now their feeding frenzy will begin. Beware Shelbyville there are pockets with silver linings.
This is very good news.
"Lucy Taylor stated that Craig was an inspiration in bringing the foreign born communities, such as the Hispanics and Somalis, to become more a part of the city and was concerned that Craig's replacement might not be as helpful."
Absolutely disgusting.
Stephenson has a responsibility to be forthcoming with the reason or reasons Craig was fired. If he can't produce them now, than his arguements are completely invalid.
I also find it beyond belief that Lee Roy Cunningham would argue with an attorney over the legality of last week's actions. What holds a greater liklihood of being accurate, the opinion of an intelligent, educated professional vs the opinion of an uneducated, redneck, used car dealer?
"Lucy Taylor stated that Craig was an inspiration in bringing the foreign born communities, such as the Hispanics and Somalis, to become more a part of the city and was concerned that Craig's replacement might not be as helpful."
So we have our now ex city manager to thank for all the illegals here ???? What a crock !
And no one in our State Government seems to have any interest in the TB rate of the Somalis either.
Lyons County KS health department isnt sure how many of them moved here when Tyson shut down there. That was the facility that had a 20yr old male virtually die from TB on their production floor. He was sick enough he did actually die in the ambulance taking him to the hospital. But of course Tyson's denied his being sick.
However, councilman Stephenson said when "things die down, he will answer the question that was on most citizens' minds -- why was Craig let go.
Really...so you're going to let things "die down" and then eventually open that can of worms again? Huh? Why not get it all out there, deal with it and move on!? Maybe more heads would roll if they did get it out there.
Well, the city will pay a 6 month salary to get rid of someone rather than let them work through the contract that will end in April.
Makes absolutely no sense to me. It shows me that a decision was made out of hate and anger rather than the city's best interest.
I've seen the term "Good Ol Boys" thrown around on this site. Well, we are all about to witness what the "Good Ol Boys" system is all about and it has nothing to do with Ed Craig.
I as a citizen feel about as helpless as I can, because I feel as though my tax money that I pay out doesn't give me a say in anything.
"The Good Ol Boys" have all the say and that is not a comfort to me at all.
Who are the council going to pick on now? Who is it that doesn't agree with them on everything that they will vote out next?
To be continued................
Al Stephenson, Thomas Landers, Jean Pruitt, and Lee Roy Cunningham you work for the people of Shelbyville. You owe us an explanation for your actions.
I am so proud of Jo Ann Holland and Kay Rose for trying to stand for a measure of sanity against the lynch mob mentality of the other four council persons. I did expect "Big Al" and "LeRoy" to carry out their long running vendetta against Mr. Craig and I don't know Jean Pruitt but I am very disappointed in Thomas Landers. I voted for this man and recently praised him for his vote on "guns in the park". I guess his sense of fairness does not extend to all subjects. As far as waiting to see what Al Stephenson has to say about this debacle, I say let's wait and see what business deal he and or LeRoy try to get through with their nemisis out of the way. Then we will know what this purge was all about. This was not a good day for our city. Blue Dog
Let's just hope that a "Good Ol Boy" of the 4 that wanted him out DON'T take Craigs place. Shelbyville will be in for real trouble if that happens.
Our city has been involved in more lawsuits the last 9 years than the previous 20. Wasting alot of OUR money. Why? Wake up people, they just got rid of a "good ole' boy" and actually cut the head off the snake! Your just too blind to see it because the other pieces are well hidden. You just don't see the other people in public, but the machine is large and they have fought a valent fight against this vote taking place. Blame LeeRoy and Al, but it really wasn't them that began this fight.
Why didn't the ex city manager thank our City Police Chief in his farewell address, last night?? Something to ponder on.......
Can someone explain to me what a "Good Ole Boy" is?
In the past few days it has been used to describe everyone from Al & Leroy, to Drunk and disorderly fire fighters, to Republicans at the Country Club, the governor and his cronies, and just about everything else you can think of.
Please try to use something else for a change. Like rich republican, because we all know Al Gore is a poor democrat, or Liberal democrat because we all know that the same values are held by NYC democrats and those of Shelbyville.
It is rather obnoxious of the crowded city council meeting last night. People were there to see the big show. Where were they at previous monthly meetings? Had they attended they might not be asking Al Stephenson to explain the council's action to them.
It has become obvious to me over the latest monthly meetings as to why the proceeding took place. I have interviewed indirectly some who voted no and yes over a period of time, and have come to the same conclusion as did the council last night. I have reviewed the city budget as well. Lately I have been attending the monthly planning meetings as well as the county meetings.
I want to know what is being done to keep our city and county going in a conservative path, not the one we are seeing in Washing D.C.
I will not go into further remarks until Al has given his opinion as to their action. At that time I may offer additional remarks.
Thanks for hearing me out,
Rodge ><>
ROFLMAO. I think the whole crew should be fired and let us start all over.
POLITICS..........!!!! How can you tell the difference between the good ones and the bad ones...they all point fingers at everybody but themselves..
I WAS FILLING SORRY FOR CRAIG AND HIS PUBLIC PROBLEM, UNTIL I READ THE COMMENT FROM LUCY TAYLOR.
I am sure there is pettiness on both sides. You have a very intelligent man on one side that is probably still the best man for the job but apparently doesn't have the ability or the desire to listen to the everyday citizen.On the other we seem to have representatives that listen too intently to people who will never be satisfied and don't see the "big picture" but like the powerful feeling that they get from getting their way. The people that speak out for Ed don't seem to encourage him to change his arrogant, for the lack of a better word, approach to some things. On the other side there are a lot of people who just aren't happy if they aren't unhappy. They are the complainers that don't have much to show for their negative appeoach to everything in life but have very high opinions of themselves and their accomplishments or more likely their lack of accomplishment. It is a sad day for our community.
What a bunch of bull hickey. Craig said
"It has been my experience that some people believe that rules are fine, except when they apply to them," Craig said, "or when they require some action that they do not agree with. Or they don't agree with the rules, and therefore they or others shouldn't have to comply with them.
was he talking about himself?
When I know for a fact that Ed Craig did not follow the rules and regulation of his office. He is a complete liar. Fact remains that yes there are rules and he was not going by the rules. He spent most of his time covering up the side bar crap he pulled. I am so glad he is gone.
George Clanton said that Craig needed to do his job or hit the road, saying the he had told him "lies on top of lies."
Black swan you have no idea what you are talking about. It is a great day in Shelbyville. Now if we can only get someone in that office that will be fair and FOLLOW THE RULES all the rest of us have to follow.
But look now he gets to sit home and collect his pay plus his pension. Tell me who the stupid one is in that situation. UNACCEPTABLE.
We really need to get rid of these "golden parachutes"...same as the big bank exec's...if they fire you because of job performance, you should not collect your salary, much less pension! Fired is fired, period!
to PoorMe:
First how long have you lived in the South? To answer your question"What is a Good Ole boy?".
A good ole' boy is Southern Network of Friends and Family to benefit a common CAUSE for all, that are included. Usually, that cause means that I will scratch your back if you scratch mine. Thus, the analyzation of the word "back" could refer to more than a body part, such as green backs...ahh, the root of all happiness, or suppossedly. You see this network of friends has exhisted for many generations. Fellow carpet-baggers would come down after the 1860's and not "fit in" to this way of life known as the Good Ole' Boy System. It echoes through these vast hills and dont fall stupid to the idea that it doesn't exhist, because I am here to proclaim it is alive and well, but took a slight setback last night. Al and LeRoy are a scapegoat and cannot compare to the complexity of this vast network.
This system even went to Hollywood, remember The Dukes of Hazzard County Ga? What is the first words of waylons song? You have Boss Hogg, with his 3 piece suit, who manipulates everyting in town to tilt to his GOB's. Some of Boss Hogg's GOB were big players but others mere friends and puppets.It takes many puppets to gain power.
It continues in 2009 and will you change this? Only when they pass on, but even then the torch will continue.
And believe it or not, there's plenty of good ol' boys up north too...although in Chicago, they're called thugs, based on the blogs I've read...we just need to start cleaning house. I have a feeling a few more cards are going to fall before all this is said and done.
Mr Craig as well as the ALL the council members know why he was fired,but due to a pending multi million dollar lawsuit against the city involving Mr Craig on advice from atty it is better at this time not to go into specific details now.This is the reason and ALL the members of the city council and mayor know this.
First, I'm using my real name. I do not hide behind a fake moniker from which those who do can malign without retribution. I sent this to T-G Editor Kent Flanagan this evening.
Dear Kent,
You and I have known each other for several years and I know you are aware of my respect for your news judgment. One can't spend that many years with the Associated Press and not acquire an impeccable sense for what is, and what is not, news. That said, I believe you will find it as important as I do that the obvious mistake in both the headline and the lead in today's story about the resignation of Mr. Ed Craig as Shelbyville City Manager is corrected.
He was, in fact, not fired as your headline and Brian's lead stated. He resigned. Brian is a good reporter so I was a little surprised he missed the difference. His lead, and the headline, stated Mr. Craig was fired. He was not. He resigned and there is a very distinct difference. Splitting hairs? Maybe. But the difference should be made clear in an equally prominent correction. I'm confident you will agree.
I realize a great deal has changed in the industry since I left it and went to what many of my former colleagues call the "dark side." I know there are those who, hiding behind a fake moniker, will agree. It is sad that news organizations no longer have the staff, the resources or the time to investigate hard news as thoroughly as it should be. This leaves them vulnerable to unintentional errors and I know this cannot be helped. On the other hand, making sure a news story's lead, and the headline that accompanies it, are accurate seems to me a simple thing to accomplish.
I hope you will consider my request for an equally prominent correction seriously and favorably. I was in your position long enough to know that what the T-G prints is, for the most part, its business. However, with that role as gatekeeper comes a responsibility to make sure the information you publish is accurate. Because I know your sense of that responsibility, I also know you will find it as important as I do that the mistake in the record be corrected.
Sincerely,
Chris Shofner
Without putting too fine a point on this issue, the city manager was forced to resign to retain the carrot that the City Council dangled before him as was reported:
"The resignation would be 'subject to him receiving continuing pay and benefits as an employee for six months, at which time he may retire from active employment under the City's pension plan.'"
The stick was implicit. Had Mr. Craig not resigned, he would have been fired outright and pay and benefits would have been denied by the same council members who voted against him.
So, in this instance what is the difference between being fired and being forced to resign? Semantics.
We deal with word usage every day in this business. The Times-Gazette will publish a clarification that the city manager was not fired but was forced to resign.
Kent Flanagan
He should have been fired for bring in the "foreign communties" and taking over our city, not theirs....
The reason there was no thank you from Ed Craig to Chief Swing is that Mr Craig has always had a deep disdain for law enforcement..
According to the article, he "resigned" only AFTER the council voted to "dismiss" him. How is that splitting hairs? I think the headline was fine/accurate.
When Al and Leroy were in office a few years back, one of their objectives was to get rid of the city manager in place during that time...and they did.
After being out of office a few years, Al and Leroy got back in office. At the beginning of their term, they tried to push Ed out then but did not have the votes. Last election they got closer with one more person in their camp elected to the city council. A new councilman was appointed after the last election. Bingo!
Whether you like or dislike Al and Leroy, their views and behavior are consistent. They are a known quantity. So if you are not happy Ed was pushed out then you should have voted against Al and Leroy last time around and/or encouraged others to do so. Best I recall very few folks vote in the city elections.
What happened this week should have not been a surprise. Blaming Al and Leroy for this week actions is like blaming a mockingbird for singing its song.
Mr. Craig's contract stated that he would continue to receive salary/benefits for the remainder of his contract term UNLESS he was fired for "cause," or job performance. This firing was political. That is why Mr. Stephenson worded his Motion in the way that he did, continuing the payment of salary/benefits. So the citizens of Shelbyville will now be paying for two city managers at one time. Thank your Council for that.
jon 1099,
I guess Mr. Craig's "deep disdain for law enforcement" is reflected in the fact that he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, was a federal prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice, and is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Tennessee State University.
I guess Mr. Craig's "deep disdain for law enforcement" is reflected in the fact that he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, was a federal prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice, and is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Tennessee State University.
I had no idea he was so accomplished.. WOW.
jon 1099,
I guess Mr. Craig's "deep disdain for law enforcement" is reflected in the fact that he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, was a federal prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice, and is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Tennessee State University.
-- Posted by wha-what on Sat, Oct 10, 2009, at 6:30 PM
And this exactly was the turn-off for Cunningham and Stephenson. I guess they aren't used to Ed's type.
gottago if you knew anything about lawyers you would know this, the creme of the crop are picked by the BEST law firms starting out at over one hundred thousand dollars per year! the better ones but not best work for large corp as atty in house. the next ones open up small law firms and dream of a big case.what is left over works for the Govt.starting at $ 18000. per year in a cubical in an old gov building somewhere.does this make things a little more clear for you?
OH Tennessee State WOW IM IMPRESSED NOT LOL I would not want to admit that to anyone..that is funny. Put that on a job app and they will laugh..
Tinytoes,
I do know something about lawyers, several in my extended circle happen to be attorneys. What you are saying APPROACHES the truth, but isn't quite there.
If you read what 'wha'what' you would see that post makes no sense and responds to nothing.
If I were you I wouldn't disparage TSU. Since your posts could hardly be considered scholarly, I am guessing you haven't even stepped foot on the campus of a four year accredited university.
tinytoes, exactly what do you do for our city that is so great?
Sheww, if I didn't know any better I'd think you really have it out for Mr. Craig.....
One other thing tinytoes, the green monster can be VERY ugly....you are being so obvious.
Tinytoes . . . anyone who attends college and graduates has nothing to be ashamed of no matter what college or university they attended. It takes a whole lot of hard work and studying and dedication and unfortunately it seems you don't appreciate that. Are you disparaging TSU because it is a historically black institution and if so, then you really should be ashamed of yourself because TSU has graduated many notable individuals including Oprah Winfrey? I don't think anyone is laughing at Oprah and her degree?
Oh well, just reading your posts and the lack of sense they typically make makes me wonder if you have even received GED at best.