Left: City Administrator Al Roder. Right: Police Chief Gary Smith.
The Northfield News reported earlier today:
Roder also declined to comment on whether a criminal investigation of Roder by the chief was a factor in Smith taking a leave of absence. The administrator confirmed that Smith claims to be conducting a criminal investigation against his boss, but said he didn’t know the chief’s reasoning.
“He didn’t say why,” Roder said. Typically such investigations are conducted by outside agencies.
Tomorrow’s StarTribune has a story titled Focus in Northfield shifts to inquiry into city administrator:
Smith’s attorney confirmed Wednesday that just before beginning his leave Monday, the chief forwarded to Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster the findings of a preliminary investigation he had been conducting of city administrator Al Roder on unspecified contractual matters and data practices.
… Smith also declined to comment Wednesday. His lawyer, David Hvistendahl, of Northfield said the chief had investigated “a number of different issues related to Mr. Roder.” Hvistendahl declined to be specific because the investigation is continuing and involved personnel matters covered by data privacy laws. Most of it, he said, involved Roder’s official duties as city administrator.
First the medical leave and now this. Can this story get any weirder?
Griff, after this story I wouldn’t be suprised anymore… This town has gone nuts!
WOW! This sounds to me like the opening scene in a cheezy murder mystery — any kaffee klatsches missing members? Maybe the “maligned” high school could adopt this as a creative writing project! Better yet, all of us hyperactive writers could post serial chapters!
Where, and please be specific, was there mention of a “medical” leave of absence for Gary Smith?
I have not seen that reason anywhere, Griff; only heard it speculated upon……
Please inform.
Kiffi, it is in the Star Tribune article he linked to above. Hvistendahl is quoted saying such.
I would question “attorney spin” versus the actual request by Chief Smith for his leave, which as I understand did not mention a health reason.
True, but while no reason was apparently mentioned in the request, there is bound to be a reason for the request. Lacking any more direct sources (like Smith himself), the explanation from his attorney is the best we have.
If it is accurate, I hope the condition isn’t anything too serious.
Rumors, spin, speculation…….all bad for dealing with any problem.
Maybe it would be good for the Chief and the City to issue a new press release on the nature of the reason for the Chief’s requested leave of absence. Would certainly clear out a lot of unproductive speculation.
Hayes hit the nail on the head! Re; “Rumors, spin, speculation [...]“ Exactly what makes Northfield such “a Special Place.”
Well, based on Hvistendahl’s comments on MPR this morning and the Star Trib story, I believe medical leave is at least part of the reason for the leave. I (like most of us) am not in a position to determine how much of the reason is based on this, so I will not speculate. Since none of this information is “actionable” by me, I’ll just watch the auto-thrash from the sidelines.
Channel 9/Fox is evidently in town doing a story. If anyone finds it on their site, please post. I don’t see an MPR story.
Fox 9 News: Northfield Drug Abuse Meeting
Thanks, Marcea. Also:
MPR: The next step in Northfield. It includes a quote from high school student Ruth Amerman.
Northfield News: News stations drawn to heroin meeting
KARE 11: Northfield heroin debate turns to talk of solutions. It includes quotes from high school students Max Jennings and Ruth Amerman.
WCCO-TV: Acting Chief: Northfield Heroin Problem Is Real. It includes quotes from Northfield resident Jennifer Wolcott and downtown business owner Cathy Collison.
Northfield is again the subject of a front page, above-the-fold story in today’s Strib:
Northfield residents want woes to be gone
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1313824.html
Although the “news” coverage gets the above-the-fold treatment, I encourage people to read Nick Coleman’s column also in today’s (Friday) Strib. A very rare breath of calm and reason in this entire debacle. Heroin hysteria smacks of distorted reality
Thanks, Randy. Also in the Strib, a sidebar: A tumultuous month
Here’s the link to yesterday’s midmorning show on MPR.
In the Regional section of today’s Sunday Strib, their ‘Sunday Journal’ feature is titled: Your Turn: The problem in Northfield -- Heroin claim causes great concern, great doubt
Here’s the comment form to submit more.
There’s a Special Northfield City Council meeting tonight, July 23, 2007 – 7:00 PM, Northfield City Hall, 801 Washington Street
http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/0/072307special.pdf
New Thread Needed
Griff- as you know I was aware of this meeting and the agenda items and will attend tonight’s meeting.
I’m wondering why, given the verbiage of the Packet you choose this to be included in the thread:
“A criminal investigation of the city administrator by the police chief is revealed”
Perhaps a new Thread titled “STENCH?” would cover it better
My read of the packet conjures up much more in these two items than your titling might seem to address. Smith’s going after Roder is only one point of the fishing expedition’s tri-dent ripping at Northfield’s fabric.
There’s Also: the Smith leave -- first reported as firing. There’s the stench in city Hall reported by Hvistendhl. There’s the Liquor siting controversy… and I would say under the heading of STENCH… possibly even more with those bad smells coming from a variety of unknow sources, in or out of City Hall.
Finally… ( and this goes to my broad brush stroke above) you omitted the closing phrase in the Second Agenda item: “requesting the State Auditor conduct a full review. etc. etc. etc. Omitted was the key phrase ” including any issues concerning conduct of the city staff or elected officials.
I repeat: ” including any issues concerning conduct of the city staff or elected officials.
Using your probe… does anyone know anyting about any of this?
Victor, where was Smith’s leave first reported as a “firing”? I must have missed that one.
I hope you’ll post a report on tonight’s meeting. Also, is there any talk of having an outside agency look at the NPD as well? That seems like a necessary thing to clear the air there and rebuild some confidence.
Victor, my omission of that phrase was inadvertent… perils of copy/paste from a PDF. Now fixed. Thx!
Is there a “stench” or is this a witch hunt?
Admittedly, I’ve had my head in the Deathly Hallows the last couple of days, so I’m a bit out of touch.
Has Dr Hvisty’s Media Show really caused that much doubt about the contract practices at City Hall to call in an extra attorney and the State Auditor?
Has the county attorney said that any of the allegations are worth further investigation or are actionable?
While I’m sure that City Hall’s practices aren’t pearly white, this is a very serious, expensive undertaking for the City, not only in real $ but significant staff time. I’m thinking that there are some worthy causes out there that could use those resources. Drug enforcement/education happens to come to mind.
Responding to Curt’s question:
“where was Smith’s leave first reported as a “firing”?
I can not cite the source -- perhaps it was in an early off line E mail or phone conversation, in other words a even more gossipy manner than the LG thread.
If I overstated that facet of the rumoring, I apologize. But I’m confident I heard “fired” in some manner. Regardless, it is clear to me “fired” might have been the first spin put to the reporting of Smith’s absence. By the time that domino tumbled, many were accusing Smith of gross overstatement. Now his attorney is re-spinning the spin and we’ll likley never know what really transpired and what the motives were.
I’ll attempt to post the essence of the Council’s discussion this evening. with the caveat that I so frenquentyl speak at the open mic… that I might be reporting my own spin… and while I have a big horn… I don’t like to blow it for my own good.
As to whether tonight’s discussion will cover; examining the NFPD
vs
It’s my understanding that the outside legal counsel is being brought in to represent THE CITY’S interest -- not the Police Department, City Administrator, or staff. This seems like a smart move given all the weird allegations and potential issues surrounding various city officials.
Linda Willgohs #22
wrote:
“While I’m sure that City Hall’s practices aren’t pearly white, this is a very serious, expensive undertaking for the City, not only in real $ but significant staff time. I’m thinking that there are some worthy causes out there that could use those resources. Drug enforcement/education happens to come to mind.”
Good observation, but if the process is such that there is a “stench” or any procedural snafus, I’d opt for dollars spent to fix those before the social ills study groups are financed. I suspect we need to handle both… and, as said other places, The Key and the rest of the N’fld youth can best pursue the drug cure -- at least to a point of some clarification.
Dr Visty’s SPIN certainly cast the first public rock at City Hall. Knowing attorney process, I’d expect no less -- even if it turns out to be without merit. And… there are other issues beyond drug and drug related questions.
Tracy’s understanding notwithstanding # 24 she wrote:
“outside legal counsel is being brought in to represent THE CITY’S interest -- not the Police Department, City Administrator, or staff. This seems like a smart move given all the weird allegations and potential issues surrounding various city officials.”
Again, IMHO a seemingly good move… but it should be noted, the action requests for tonight will look at two separate actions..
1) Outside Counsel
2) involving the State Auditor’s Office to undertake a broad examination into a LARGE variety of issues.. that may be the source of the good Doctor’s Stench
vs
After all the announcements on KYMN this morning about confidentiality and Maren Swanson being the only contact with the media, I was surprised when Al Roder came on air after 8:30 am today Tuesday, for a few minutes of interview. Anybody else hear it? Roder said he received Smith’s request for the leave, but has not talked with him. He says he is unaware of what is being investigated.
My mole in the City Attorney’s office has informed me that the Rice County Attorney’s office has turned the Smith/Roder investigation over to the Goodhue County Attorney.