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Resident urges council to amend municipal code, calls for city attorney's contract termination
Summary
At the June 9 meeting a resident urged the South Bend council to change Article 2, Chapter 1, Section 210 of the municipal code, saying it conflicts with state law and citing advisory findings from Indiana public access counselors; the resident also urged termination of city attorney Bob Palmer's contract over alleged misconduct.
A South Bend resident told the Common Council on June 9 that an ordinance in the city's municipal code conflicts with Indiana law and urged council members to amend it and to terminate the contract of the council attorney.
"Another meeting has come and gone, And yet again, this body has chosen to neglect a critical issue concerning Article 2, Chapter 1, Section 2 10 of our municipal code," Logan Foster said during the privilege of the floor, giving his name and address as 1138 College Street. Foster said two Indiana public access counselors, Joseph B. Hoag and Luke Britt, had determined the ordinance violates state law and asked the council directly, "When will we amend and rectify this ordinance?" He named four council members and said delaying action would "knowingly allow our laws to remain at odds with the state statutes."
Foster also urged the council to "terminate the contract of attorney Bob Palmer," accusing Palmer of facilitating illegal executive sessions and of not complying with public records requests sent in January 2025. "For this incompetence, Palmer receives a $100,000 taxpayer funded salary," Foster said.
The council did not take action in the meeting in response to Foster's remarks. Earlier in the meeting Council member Dr. Oliver Davis asked the city attorney to provide a letter to the police community review board encouraging open votes; the council attorney said the letter had not been sent because the community review board had recently proposed regulations about abstentions and the attorney needed to coordinate with the board's counsel. The council attorney verbally committed to provide an update by June 23.
Foster's remarks were part of the public comment period; he cited determinations by state public access counselors and alleged, but did not document in the meeting, specific violations or a personnel decision. The transcript shows no motion, vote or formal council action in response to his request during the June 9 meeting.
