City Still Refuses to Pay

On February 14 the Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners ended 4 1/2 months of hearings into an attempt by the police chief to fire a 19-year sergeant. The Board issued its Findings and Decision, five pages that clear Sgt. Gorski of charges that he improperly used medications prescribed by his doctors for treatment of two on-the-job back injuries. The Board dismissed the charges and ordered the City to pay Sgt. Gorski all his back wages.

Now, eight months later, the City has not paid one penny. Not the back wages; not the wages since February 14. Instead, the City is wasting thousands of dollars in court, claiming that the Board made the wrong decision and in the wrong way.

Should the City have gotten an opinion from a different law firm before hiring the City Attorney's office to run off to the courthouse? Just how much is being spent in legal fees in this silly legal maneuvering? The City is paying the City Attorney to handle the Chief's case; the City must be paying the attorney for the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

And the City will end up paying the legal fees for Sgt. Gorski, when he ultimately is successful in getting what is due him! That's three sets of legal fees - all unnecessary!

The City has put every employee on notice. Be good. Do what you are told, even if it's not right. Or else.

Four of the City Council members need to correct the City's path and DIRECT the City Manager and Human Resources to follow the order of its 3-man Commission and pay Sgt. Gorski within seven days.

The Findings and Decision are public record. They should have been included in Minutes of the Commission's first meeting after February 14.

Why aren't they? Because the City Attorney says that they don't have to be there. He says they are public; anyone can read them at City Hall.

Of course, you have to be a mind reader to know that they are there at City Hall to be read.