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Davenport resident criticizes council transparency, cites 324 Main Street collapse and concealed payments
Summary
During public comment, Judith Lee (2nd Ward) urged the council to exercise oversight and criticized the administration for lack of transparency, referencing the collapse of 324 Main Street and what she described as concealed payments and open-meeting-law concerns.
Judith Lee of the 2nd Ward told council she has observed a pattern of poor transparency and deference to city staff and legal counsel. "In general, I've watched as this council, along with the now permanent city administrator and corporation council, have circled the wagons with your constituents on the outside of the circle," she said, urging aldermen to ask tougher questions, demand timely and complete answers, and remember that city administration works for the elected body.
Lee referenced the collapse of 324 Main Street and alleged "millions of dollars of concealed payments and benefits to 3 employees based on undocumented allegation and violation of open meeting law," saying the city has delayed the related case for three years and is now in discovery. She urged the council to act on directives from a judge to claw back payments and to stop paying outside attorneys when those actions contradict agreements. The council did not respond with a substantive rebuttal during the Committee of the Whole meeting.
