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Residents urge accountability after prior city‑manager settlement and council vote; calls for resignation of councilwoman Fielding
Summary
Multiple residents used public comment time to call for accountability and to criticize Councilwoman Karen Fielding’s vote to retain a manager previously accused of racist remarks; speakers alleged past scheming to remove employees and cited a severance settlement paid to former City Manager Owen Dickey.
During the public‑comment period at the May 13 Mesquite City Council meeting, many residents criticized the conduct of elected officials, renewed calls for Councilwoman Karen Fielding to resign and recounted allegations about efforts to remove city employees.
Speakers repeatedly cited the council’s action at a prior meeting involving former City Manager Owen Dickey and the settlement that followed. Ron Shackleford told council that because city legal counsel stepped out of that earlier meeting, the word "with cause" was omitted from a motion to terminate, and the city later paid a severance and COBRA expenses totaling $47,379: "That settlement cost our city $47,379. We had to pay him 3 months salary, 3 months of pay for COBRA insurance… Those words were not said."
Multiple speakers urged Councilwoman Fielding to resign over her vote to retain Mr. Dickey at the prior meeting. Teresa Wilridge Ofori said Fielding’s vote "sent a clear message… that racial insensitivity from those in power is acceptable" and called the vote dangerous to the city’s future. Other commenters alleged that a group of council members had schemed to remove certain city employees; some said tapes and recordings exist and threatened that they would be released to the press.
City and council context: These comments were part of the public‑comment period; the council did not take formal disciplinary action in this meeting on those allegations. Council and staff previously have handled management and personnel matters in closed sessions and through the personnel and legal processes required by state law and city policy.
Ending: The public comments underscore continuing community divisions and demand accountability from elected officials; the council took no formal personnel action at the May 13 meeting regarding the allegations raised in public comment.
