Citizen demands grant accounting and questions legal letters and settlement payments

During the public comment period, resident Sean Patrick Smith asked the council for an itemized accounting of more than $12 million in federal and state grant funding the city has received in recent years and said that information has not been prepared for public release. He also said several citizens had received letters from a Monroe law firm engaged by the town manager threatening legal action and asked why public employees would use legal intimidation against private citizens exercising First Amendment rights.

"The community does indeed need to know when we can get an itemized account of how over $12 million in federal and state grant money we've already gotten ... has actually been used," Smith said. He further asked, "What was the amount of money paid to Officer Lohee following her sexual harassment complaint? And under what justification was it made?" He said taxpayers had every right to know whether funds were used to uphold justice or to purchase silence.

Mayor Pro Tem and other council members responded by noting that the city budget is available for public inspection and encouraged the commenter to consult staff for detailed records. No itemized grant accounting was provided during the meeting; the questions remained unresolved pending staff follow‑up or a public records request.