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Dothan Legal Department ORDERS Rickey Stokes Not To Be Allowed To Review Public Records

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 12700

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 08 2016 5:47 PM

DOTHAN:    Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White about to get members of the Dothan Commission in legal hot water again.


This week I have spent some time in the records area of the Dothan City Clerk's Office. This is where records of minutes for Dothan Commission Meetings, Ordinances, Dothan Planning Commission minutes and others are maintained. The records are public record.


I started in 1973 and have been reviewing minutes of the commission meetings and some ordinances passed over the years.


This afternoon when I walked in the Dothan City Clerk's Office I asked were they capable of key word searches. They were, but they informed me, as per the Legal Department ( Freddie Len White ) of the City of Dothan, because I had pending litigation against the City of Dothan in United States Federal Court, I was not allowed to review the public records.


The Dothan City Clerk's Office said they were instructed by the Legal Department that I would have to submit my request in writing of what I wanted.


I replied, these are public records. And was informed of their marching orders from the Legal Department ( Freddie Len White ) of the City of Dothan. So access denied.


THESE RECORDS are public records. Litigation or no litigation, the records are open to the public for inspection. Any copies I am required to pay for and have been paid for. The records are maintained in the vault and the public is allowed to review the records. You can not take the records from there and I have not attempted to do that.


Pending litigation is not a legal reason for denying access to review public records ( minutes ) of meetings.


One of the on going issues with the City of Dothan is no one is maintaining control over the Legal Department and Municipal Court of the City of Dothan. The Dothan Commission said a 2003 policy is the Dothan City Attorney works for the City Manager. And with that, the Commission can not terminate the City Attorney without the recomendation of the City Manager.


And my position, that is a false impression that Dothan City Attorney and Dothan City Manager have given the commission.


The Legal Department works directly for the Dothan Commission, and the hire/fire authority rest solely with the Dothan Commission.


DOTHAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT


Under the Mayor/Commission/City Manager form of government, the Mayor or Commission has to seek the permission of the City Manager to talk directly to any department head or employee of the City of Dothan. 


The employment of any department head or termination of any department head, has to be at the request of the City Manager. Now the Dothan Commissioners can reject the recommendation of the City Manager, but they can not terminate or employ someone without the City Manager recommendation.


The history of the Dothan City Attorney begs to differ. That position is a direct hire of the Mayor and Commission. And one of the issues I was researching was to show that I am correct.


And obviously Freddie Len White knows that. So he has again exercised his power, which is not being managed, and told the City Clerk Office I am not allowed to review public records.


And the Dothan Commission continues to allow this department to run crazy. And this will cost the citizens more money as this issue is litigated.


The Dothan Commission has spent $ 25,000.00 in defense of a federal civil action where they have illegally appointed Acting Municipal Judges since 2004. And not one of the Dothan Commissioners are holding Freddie Len White, Dothan Legal Department, accountable for unsound legal advice.


But they fired a Dothan employee for not using his meal allowance when he traveled out of town, but using the $ 25 meal allowance when he returned to Dothan.


But they let Freddie Len White cost $ 25,000.00 so far for bad advice, $ 42,500.00 in another Federal case, millions in legal violations with EPA when armed federal agents raided the manure plants. And they allow him to continue to cost the City millions.


But they are smart enough to hire outside lawyers when in trouble. They just won't fire Freddie Len White.



Access to Public Records by rickystokesnews on Scribd




Dothan Legal Department ORDERS Rickey Stokes Not To Be Allowed To Review Public Records

Dothan Legal Department ORDERS Rickey Stokes Not To Be Allowed To Review Public Records

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