Headline 2

FORMER PARKVILLE MAYOR WANTS
TO TELL HER SIDE OF STORY

Jerry Keugn

Reporter

Former Parkville Mayor Kathy Dusenbery, whose alleged forwarding of an e-mail from present Mayor Gerry Richardson with her title and signature line included has prompted a citizen complaint and the first meeting of the Parkville Ethics Commission, is ready to defend herself.

After the ethics commission decided last week to move forward into an investigation of an ethics complaint made by Parkville resident David Williams, Dusenbery said, “I respect the ethics commission’s decision and look forward to having the opportunity to explain the situation.”

Once Dusenbery, who vacated her mayoral office in Parkville to run for 1st District Commissioner, received notification from the Parkville city clerk about the ethics commission’s decision, she had 10 days to submit her position in writing. She also has the right to request a public hearing. The next meeting of the ethics commission is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 14.

While Dusenbery was the mayor when the ordinance was passed by the Parkville Board of Aldermen in 2005, she said last week that she thinks the ordinance should be reviewed.

“We probably should have researched the ordinance a lot more back then,” Dusenbery said. “There is a freedom of speech question here and I think the ordinance may be unconstitutional. There is nothing in the ordinance that says I can’t forward an e-mail.”

Missouri Municipal League Executive Director Gary Markenson said he had not heard of a similar ordinance provision to the one on Parkville ’s books.

“It is certainly an unusual provision and one that I am not familiar with,” said Markenson, who also said he questions how the ordinance could be enforced, even if it was broken, when the person is no longer in office. “I don’t know of any other community with anything like this and since she isn’t the sitting mayor, then I am not sure how this even applies.”

For the full story see this week's issue.