Freddie Len White: The Source of Misinformation
Rickey StokesViewed: 7303
Posted by: RStokes
thehoustonnewspaper@yahoo.com
334-790-1729
Date: Nov 17 2009 3:59 PM
DOTHAN: The tape of the Dothan City Commission Meeting is confirmation why I have advocated the City of Dothan needs a new City Attorney!!!
Today Dothan City Commissioner James Reading asked the City Manager to explain the Eva Matthews lawsuit. Reading said he learned from RSN the City of Dothan forgave $ 46,000.00 in the lawsuit, but he was not aware the City paid $ 14,000.00 in the case.
Commissioner Reading said he and Mayor Mike Schmitz were in a meeting with Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White ( the one who needs to be replaced ). It was an orientation meeting. Commissioner Reading asked Freddie Len White about the Eva Matthews case. White replied…are you talking about the $14,000.00 that was paid?
Commissioner Reading said that statement from Freddie Len White was the first he knew that $14,000.00 was ever paid in the case.
( NOTE: The City Manager can spend $ 15,000.00 without anyone’s approval. The expenditures will never will make the light of day. RSN paid $ 200.00 and requested the check register months and months ago, but was denied that request by…guess who…Freddie Len White ).
Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White told Commissioner Reading that $ 14,000.00 could be paid to settle the case. He then told Commissioner Reading he did not know the source of Reading’s information, that $ 14,000.00 had not been paid.
FUNNY…Freddie told Reading “ I do not know the source of your information but it is wrong. The source of Reading’s information is Freddie Len White.
Apparently confused and dazed with what he has heard from Freddie, Mayor Mike Schmitz asked City Manager for help in the issue, there was some confusion over the $ 14,000.00 paid. HELP ME! HELP ME!
Buying time and in an effort to end the conversation, City Manager Mike West said they would prepare a written report. Reading says he wants the report by the next commission meeting.
ISSUE
The City of Dothan had a vacancy for City Clerk. The job was held by Delma Lee and she retired. Eva Matthews was a sitting member of the Dothan Personnel Board. Dennis Rubin was City Manager. Mike Tew was Chairman of the Dothan Citizens Supervisory Committee.
City Manager Dennis Rubin hired Pam McCoy as City Clerk. Eva Matthews filed a lawsuit. Her husband, Larry Matthews was then elected as Commissioner of District One.
Mrs. Matthews lost the lawsuit, but was ordered to pay attorney fees. She appealed that ruling.
In November there was a vote not to renew the contract for City Manager Mike West. Commissioner Matthews, without saying one word, voted not to renew West contract.
In December the Dothan City Commission went into an Executive Session where a pending legal matter was discussed. The issue was the Eva Matthews lawsuit.
The following February the Dothan Commission voted to approve a new contract for City Manager Mike West. Commissioner Matthews, without saying one word, voted in favor of the new contract for West.
App. Two weeks later, the City of Dothan and Eva Matthews reached an agreement to settle her appeal of the attorney fees.
There has been no mention of $ 14,000.00 paid except for the statements made by Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White.
Listen to the tape and see what you think.
And oh, Mr. West...would you allow any employee of the City of Dothan to address you in the tones Freddie Len White does to elected officials? Really!
<- back
