Dear Editor:

As Seligman, Missouri, Aldermen Eldora Pratt and I resigned at the end of the June meeting, rumors continue to fly with speculation and few facts. 

It was clear to us that we could not correct bad conduct and illegal activity of our city. The city we were elected to represent had some flaws that we just couldn’t get past. There was an attempt to impeach me without “Just Cause,” only rambling statements from the City Clerk and the Chief of Police with unfounded accusations of wrong doing. No lawyers reviewed the accusations or grievances. One exception is when the clerk provided his first statement to the attorney. He was told there wasn’t a case nor any charges; it wouldn’t hold up in court. There are at least three versions of the Clerk’s accusations; each new version edited with subtle changes to enhance his image. The whole process was flawed and didn’t follow impeachment guidelines. 

Lawyers were not presented with proposed ordinances to be passed; they were just pushed through without verifying legality as if they had been. Such is the case with the Alderman and Mayor raise that happened in April’s meeting; after the election (two incumbents who would benefit from the raise), with the outgoing board. 

I voted for it without realizing the legal problems with it and the fact that the mayor pay included hourly wages in addition to elected position pay. Telling a friend after the meeting, she gasped, “You did what?” 

Attempts were made to set up a special meeting to repeal the ordinance; we could not get that to happen. Also, attempting to add items to the agenda was not possible. Every item was turned down. 

During the June Alderman meeting, an attempt was made to get additional pay for the Mayor by an Alderman as mayor pro-tem. We discussed the illegality of such, tabled the item, and suggested that this be presented to a lawyer before coming back to the board. An elected official cannot be an employee of the city and cannot utilize the city’s equipment without severe liability consequences to the city in case of an incident. 

Elected officials can be contractors to the city, provided that they bid on the contract job and win, and use their own equipment. Having presented the information, the mayor pro-tem still wanted to see if it could be passed, asked if the votes were “yes” when they were clearly “no,” and without motion. 

My schedule is pretty busy; my health issues became more of a problem for me. Eldora was frustrated with how everything was being handled. She also was having serious health issues and high stress. While I had turned in resignation papers before, I was told that I was still needed and urged to retract my resignation; so, I did. 

I worked with Alderman Pratt and tried to find resources that we needed. With the alderman revocation of access to the minutes and agenda of 5-plus years, we knew there was more to the story. Further actions were taken by both of us. We were advised that remaining on the board could lead to legal consequences that could negatively affect our future, just by being present. 

We resigned at the end of the June meeting. Eldora was pressured to remain on; she wanted nothing more to do with it. The board would not accept her resignation, but it isn’t their choice. She and I were replaced. We still remain active in getting solutions for the city’s situations.

Michael Lamb

Seligman