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Lisbon council issues public reprimand to Councilman Rick Scott after investigator’s finding
Summary
After a third-party investigation into a May 2 interaction with a city employee, the Lisbon City Council voted 3-0 (with one abstention) to publicly reprimand Councilman Rick Scott and warned that abusive language toward city staff will not be tolerated.
The Lisbon City Council voted on Aug. 25, 2025, to publicly reprimand Councilman Rick Scott after a third-party investigator concluded Scott spoke harshly to a city employee during a May 2 interaction.
City Attorney Mark Parmenter summarized a complaint filed by Utility Billing Clerk Marsha Lasack and advised the council to hire an outside investigator. With council consent, City Administrator Brandon Siggins retained Attorney Amy Reasner of Lynch Dallas to conduct the review. According to the minutes, Reasner's investigation found that Scott "spoke harshly" to Lasack in a manner that could be defined as abusive.
Councilman Nathan Smith moved that the council issue a public reprimand; Kevin Steele seconded the motion. After discussion, the council adopted the reprimand by roll call vote: Ayes — John Bardsley, Kevin Steele and Nathan Smith; Abstain — Rick Scott; Absent — Mike Williams. The motion carried, 3-0, with Scott abstaining from the vote.
The council record notes two options were presented: take no action or issue a public reprimand. Smith said the council "should not and cannot tolerate any abusive language toward any members of the City Council, the Mayor or any City Employees," and the motion instructed Scott that the conduct would not be tolerated going forward. Councilman Bardsley added that security equipment at the time of the incident was not functioning but has since been repaired and emphasized that all persons entering City Hall should treat employees with respect.
The minutes do not record any further disciplinary steps or penalties beyond the public reprimand. The record shows the council entered an appropriately noticed closed session under Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i) to consider the personnel-related complaint, and later returned to open session and took the public reprimand vote. The minutes do not specify whether Scott made a statement in response during the meeting.
