Dover City Council to meet to override Mayor Richard Homrighausen's vetoes of new positions
DOVER — City Council will meet on Jan. 31 to consider overriding vetoes by Mayor Richard Homrighausen of legislation that would have combined the safety and service director positions into one job and eliminated the job of mayor's executive assistant.
The mayor vetoed the ordinances last week.
"It is clear to any reader of the preambles to each of these ordinances that they were prepared by the law director (Doug O'Meara) to impede the functions of city business as outlined in the Ohio Revised Code," Homrighausen wrote in his veto message, which was sent to council members and the news media.
MORE: Family members questioned
"In addition, the law director and council's instructions within these ordinances are clearly designed to restrict the administration's ability to conduct the normal operations of city business."
Council redefines positions after Mayor Richard Homrighausen fires three
Council members passed the ordinances earlier this month in response to the firings of Service Director Dave Douglas, Safety/Human Resources Director Gerry Mroczkowski and Eva Newsome, the mayor's executive assistant, by Homrighausen just before Christmas.
The mayor has provided no explanation for the firings, but all three employees provided testimony during an investigation into Homrighausen's conduct as mayor last year and testified about what they said was his decline in health, both physically and mentally.
Dover City Council: Members expresse support for three fired employees and redefine positions
The ordinance combining the safety director and service director's job makes the position part-time with a salary of $10 per hour. The person holding that job will not receive any medical, health, dental or insurance coverage.
Further, the ordinance will be repealed if the fired employees are reinstated "and the wrongs committed by the mayor on Dec. 21, 2021, are rectified to council's satisfaction."
The same repeal provision is included in the ordinance eliminating the executive assistant position if the employees are reinstated by the mayor, the State Personnel Board of Review, any settlement or court order.
"Further, all council members have always proclaimed that their sole intention is to do what is in the best interests of the City of Dover and I feel they have failed in that commitment with their passing of these ordinances," Homrighausen wrote.
Councilmember responds to mayor's comments
Councilwoman Sandy Moss responded to the mayor's comments in an email to him.
"As far as I am concerned city council HAS acted in the best interest of the City of Dover," she wrote.
"You or whoever helps you make your decisions, on the other hand, HAVE NOT. Firing 3 of the most important employees of the city and your administration and hiring quote, 'a family friend' with absolutely no experience whatsoever in supervising a municipality is once again NOT in the best interest of the City of Dover or its citizens."
In December, the mayor announced that he was appointing Aaron Feller as service director. Council President Shane Gunnoe has described Feller as a friend of the Homrighausen family who does not have any municipal government experience. He has not yet assumed his duties.
Dover resident critical of mayor's behavior
The mayor drew criticism for his behavior from a Dover resident at Tuesday's council meeting.
Jennifer Flaherty said she was dismayed that Homrighausen did not respond to an impassioned plea from Kelly Elliott, the city's deputy auditor, at the Jan. 3 council meeting to do the right thing in regard to the firings.
The mayor did not respond to Elliott's comments.
"You gave nothing back to her," Flaherty said. "You didn't even say thank you for your concern. You didn't say anything. As a mayor, in my eyes, you're supposed to be a leader, and you're supposed to be accountable. I'm sorry, but I'm just not seeing that from you.
"I've lived in Dover several years, and you've always been a role model. And then lately, you just haven't been a role model for our kids. Our kids are hearing about some of the things going on in the newspaper, or some of the articles that have been on Facebook. You're supposed to be our leader. You're not being a very good leader, especially to our kids. Our kids are the most important part of our community.
"I just wish in my heart that you would step up and be a leader for them again. I know you can do it. I know the kids want it. I know council wants it. I know I want it, and I'm sure your I know family wants it. So if you can't be that leader, we understand. Let somebody else be that leader. Don't go down with the ship. You're a good man."
Homrighausen did not respond to Flaherty's comments.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover Ohio City Council to meet to override mayor's vetoes
