Why are city officials paying former City Attorney Helene
Leichter twice not to sue them? What is worth more than $250,000 to
make her go away? We join Morgan Hill’s elected officials in their
surprise at the lack of citizen outrage over the second settlement
between Leichter and the city.
Why are city officials paying former City Attorney Helene Leichter twice not to sue them? What is worth more than $250,000 to make her go away? We join Morgan Hill’s elected officials in their surprise at the lack of citizen outrage over the second settlement between Leichter and the city. After all, the money could have been used to fund a police officer position or a park maintenance worker. Or perhaps the council would have chosen to install in-pavement flashing lights to improve crosswalk visibility downtown.
We’re calling on Morgan Hill residents to let elected officials hear some righteous indignation about the settlements, and to remember the expensive Leichter settlements at the next city council election.
For the second time, city officials have paid lots of money to Leichter for a promise not to sue them.
The first settlement in September 2004 cost the city $40,000 in cash plus a seven-week vacation bonus for Leichter. The settlement stemmed from rumors that Leichter and City Manager Ed Tewes were having an affair – which both have steadfastly denied – that were apparently passed along by former City Councilwoman Hedy Chang.
The latest settlement has a $233,055.80 price tag that breaks down like this: Leichter submits her resignation and promises not to sue the city in exchange for $53,750 for her salary and benefits to July 1, $18,055.80 for accrued vacation to July 1 and $161,250 “in compensation for alleged physical injury or sickness,” which have not been publicly explained.
The lack of public explanation for this outrageous outlay of taxpayer dollars during these tight fiscal times just adds insult to injury. The tepid justifications offered by city officials are hardly reassuring.
“We can console ourselves with the notion that, given the same information, most people would have done the same thing,” Councilman Greg Sellers said.
“It’s the right thing for the city,” Councilman Mark Grzan said.
It makes us wonder, and it makes us mad. Residents have a right to know if Morgan Hill is being managed so badly that employees are being damaged to the tune of six figures. Are our elected officials terrible managers? Negotiators? Or both? City officials have a duty to the taxpayers whose money they are handing over to Leichter to fully explain the circumstances surrounding the settlements.
Without such an explanation, residents cannot properly evaluate the performance of officials in their important role in managing the city and as residents’ representatives at the negotiating table.
Without such an explanation, residents will be forced to make assumptions about the reasons for the settlement, and we doubt that those assumptions will be flattering to council members who have given more than a quarter million of their hard-earned tax dollars away for two promises not to sue.
