VOTE ABOLISHES CITY'S ETHICS PANEL//COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS COMMISSION HAD BECOME A 'POLITICAL PAWN'
MARISA AGHA, Pioneer Press
July 16, 2002

The Roseville citizens' advisory group formed more than a decade ago to keep its political leaders in check was abruptly disbanded Monday night.

In a sudden move, the City Council majority aligned with Roseville Mayor John Kysylyczyn voted 3-2 Monday night to abolish the city's Ethics Commission. The action came as the commission faced the prospect of reviewing a citizen's complaint alleging misconduct by Kysylyczyn.Council Member Greg Schroeder argued that the commission, which has seen a number of complaints in the past year, has become a "political pawn'' in the city.

"I think the Ethics Commission is a total embarrassment for the city of Roseville,'' said Schroeder, who spoke after the mayor asked him. "If someone has a complaint, go through the proper procedures."

Last week, ethics commissioners agreed to forward resident Lillian Chiarella's complaint against the mayor to the city prosecutor, who, in turn, has forwarded the matter to White Bear Lake's city prosecutor. Chiarella's complaint alleges that Kysylyczyn violated state law and the city's ethics code when he voted on whether the city should pay his legal fees, incurred from last year's ethics investigation based on citizen Dick Lambert's complaint. That investigation found that evidence was "insufficient.''

Monday's decision probably means that the commission will not later review whether the mayor violated the city's ethics code in the latest complaint.

Council Member Dean Maschka, who along with Council Member Craig Klausing, voted against the commission's demise, said he continues to support the commission's role.

"To me, they have absolutely taken no action other than to do what was prescribed under the ethics resolution,'' Maschka said.

Kysylyczyn, who supported the abolishment, said that state law already covers what the complaints have addressed.

"This is a question of whether you want taxpayer dollars going to investigate speeding tickets,'' the mayor said.

Council Member Tom Kough made up the third vote of the prevailing side.

In other action, the City Council rejected, in a 3-2 vote, making Kysylyczyn the editor in chief of the city's Roseville Wrap newsletter. Kysylyczyn and Schroeder, who had expressed concerns about work not published in The Wrap, were the two dissenters. The city also enacted an immediate hiring freeze on all full-time positions, with the exception of a police chief. If a position needs to be filled, staff must approach the council as it reviews the upcoming budget.

Marisa Agha can be reached at magha@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-2109.

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