RFP Staff
♦ On the morning of September 16, 2013, “mutually terminated” city manager Doug Paris sent Elaney Hasselmann a copy of a script written for County Commissioner Jon Barber to read during his statement to the County Comission later that day. Paris’s script was an attempt to create the illusion that the Board of Commissioners was seeking to punish Barber for statements he recently made in favor of the City of Salisbury’s attempts to build a school central office on South Main Street. In truth, Barber was being investigated for personal use of county resources. View the emailed script and the videotaped reading below.
Paris’s Emailed Script:
From: Doug Paris [mailto:dpari@salisburync.gov] Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 4:07 AM To: Elaney Hasselmann Subject: Re:
According to the school of government “a motion of censure” has no legal effect other than to express the dissatisfaction of the majority of the board (pause scan audience). It’s no secret the majority of the board has been upset with me due to the fact that I speak with the newspaper about county business and I am open and transparent with the public (look at chairman). This isn’t about copies, that’s a petty ruse, I paid for the copies and I will be glad to pay for them a second time, and a third time. This is about silencing me (long pause). This is about keeping me from talking to the newspaper and the public. This is nothing more than a code of silence. That isn’t going to happen. When it comes to being open with the public and the media about this county’s business I WILL DEFY the majority of this board (pause). You will not silence me.
However (add emphasis), members of the majority of this board have violated this very policy before us today. Over the next several weeks I will be submitting two My Turns to the Salisbury Post outlining these ethics violations; and I will let the public be the judge.
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 16, 2013, at 9:48 AM, “Doug Paris” <dpari@salisburync.gov> wrote:
According to the school of government “a motion of censure has no legal effect other than to express the dissatisfaction of the majority of the board (pause scan audience). It’s no secret the majority of the board has been upset with me due to the fact that I speak with the newspaper about county business and I am open and transparent with the public (look at chairman). This isn’t about copies, that’s a petty ruse, I paid for the copies and I will be glad to pay for them a second time, and a third time. This is about silencing me (long pause). This is about keeping me from talking to the newspaper and the public. This is nothing more than a code of silence. That isn’t going to happen. When it comes to being open with the public and the media about this county’s business I WILL DEFY the majority of this board (pause). You will not silence me.
Sent from my iPhone
