The above screen shot is from Milton’s city charter (the municipal equivalent of the US Constitution) and clearly states that city council members should deal with city employees solely through the city manager.  This is Good Governance 101.  However, certain council members feel that they are above the law . . . and often that they are the law.  Rick Mohrig is one such rogue council member who routinely directs staff. 

Recently, Mohrig threw a temper tantrum over alleged irregularities in his election opponent’s placement of campaign signs . . . blowing up the Community Development Director’s phone.  Following is an email from Mohrig to the City Manager and the City Manager’s email response.  City Manager Krokoff does not mince words and blasts Mohrig with his response.  Mr. Krokoff is usually quite diplomatic in his interactions with council (as collectively, council is his boss), but clearly in this situation, Krokoff had more than enough of Mr. Mohrig’s interference with staff.  Krokoff states that this episode is just one of many meddling incidents over the years involving Mohrig.  However, in this case, Mohrig’s meddling could be interpreted as, Krokoff states . . .  “an attempt to use governmental authority to suppress a political opponent.”  In addition to his blunt email, Krokoff sent an equally blunt memo to staff reiterating, in very specific terms, prohibitions against council members interfering in daily city operations.  The memo is attached with the more important parts highlighted in yellow.

Typically, I tease apart and explain the documents that I use to support my blog posts.  However, in this case, the City Manager’s sharp response (and his memo to staff) are concise and explain Mohrig’s misbehavior better than I could ever explain it.  Accordingly, I provide both Mohrig’s initial email and the City Manager’s response (in reverse chronological order).  You be the judge.  Is Mohrig someone who really should be representing citizens interests on council?  Is he committed to ethics?  Is he committed to upholding the law?  Is this any way to treat staff?

As Krokoff states, Mohrig has a long and dismal record of improper interactions with staff—some quite disrespectful and dismissive.  Readers might recall that I recently wrote about how Council Member Mohrig–and the other partisan members of the Election Feasibility Committee (EFC)–shunted aside city staff EFC members.  The four partisan members deleted important details that were contained in an EFC draft report authored by Deputy City Manager Inglis.  This included an essential 1) discussion of election risks and 2) staff costs in the elections business case.  Following is a link to my blog post: 

Latest Investigation Shows Mohrig Pushed Aside City Staff and Suppressed Elections Findings . . . Violating Committee Standards . . . To Advance His Propagandistic Election Agenda

Advocating For Good Governance,

Tim

Note:  As always, I am attaching the source materials.  I do this so that you can draw your own conclusions.  Attached are 1) the email exchange between Krokoff and Mohrig and 2) the memo sent by the City Manager to elected officials and city staff.