Hubbard leaders feel personnel problem getting personal

By John w. Goodwin jr.

HUBBARD — The law director here says the mayor was wrong to intervene in disciplinary action affecting the mayor’s son-in-law — then he suggested the mayor step down.

Jeffrey D. Adler, city law director, said the heated discussion that spilled over into a council meeting earlier this week started last week when he learned that a city employee related to Mayor Art Magee had been driving city vehicles without a valid driver’s license.

Adler said Jim Bowers, a relief foreman and Magee’s son-in-law, has not had a valid driver’s license since July 2007. He said Bowers had been driving large city vehicles before and since July 2007.

Adler said he sent a memo to the city administration March 30 suggesting that the driving eligibility of all city employees be checked. He said he also suggested that Bowers be placed on administrative leave as is written in collective bargaining agreements, but that did not happen.

The law director said Magee intervened in the proceedings, lowering Bowers’ rank, but keeping him on the job.

Magee said there was no intervention or special treatment, but he did have Bowers sign a form reducing his pay and position until his driving privileges are reinstated. He said Bowers simply had not renewed his license and is in the process of doing so now.

Mike Villano, city auditor, said auditor department records show that Bowers was moved from a relief foreman at a pay rate of $20.61 per hour to a utility man B at $19.04 per hour.

The mayor said Adler made the situation personal by attacking him during the council meeting this week. He said the administration had handled the situation, and Adler’s interjection was not needed.

“I intend to write a personal letter to the prosecutor about Jeff’s behavior. I don’t mind criticism, but not personal attacks where I don’t know what he is talking about,” he said.

Adler, however, said the mayor made the situation personal and that is where the problem began.

“In the future, you are not going to be able to discipline anyone any further than you have disciplined this person. He has set a bad precedence for the city,” Adler said. “The mayor is putting personal matters over the welfare of the city, and if he is going to do that he should consider relinquishing his position.”

Adler also said the city could have been held liable should Bowers have had an accident while driving a city vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

jgoodwin@vindy.com