TALLADEGA — Resident James Anderson has filed a complaint with the state ethics commission against Councilman Eddie Tucker based on allegations mentioned in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Home.
“I am a 34-year-resident of the city of Talladega and a legal registered voter and taxpayer…” Anderson wrote. “As a private concerned citizen, I am formally requesting an Alabama Ethics Commission inquiry and possible prosecution on this matter.”
Ethics Commission general counsel Hugh Evans responded “The ethics commission cannot investigate complaints based on newspaper articles. However, it is suggested you contact the city, as they are required by law to report this to the ethics commission.”
Interim city manager Chris Stone said he had not formally submitted any information to the commission, but would be doing so soon.
The violations mentioned in the previous article involve the threat of a lawsuit from City Board of Education member Shirley Simmons-Sims. Simmons-Sims slipped and fell at the Spring Street Recreation Center in January 2009 and initially filed a $200,000 claim with the city’s insurance carrier. The claim was denied.
In June of this year, in order to forestall the possibility of a civil suit, Tucker, who is Simmons-Sims son-in-law, met with Parks and Recreation director Parvin Neloms to discuss possible solutions. Tucker suggested paying Simmons-Sims $900 for her ambulance costs, giving her a life-long membership at Spring Street and purchasing a new bathing suit for her.
A purchase order for the new bathing suit was submitted, but not approved. The $900 check was never issued.
Under the city manager law governing Talladega, it is a misdemeanor for a councilman to direct or instruct a city employee to carry out any specific action.
Tucker denied doing anything wrong, saying he only asked Neloms to talk to Simmons-Sims about a settlement. Neloms declined to comment.
Chris Norwood can be contacted at cnorwood@dailyhome.com
Thanks though, to the council members who are pulling their weight, when certain other council members won't pull their own.The honest ones know who they are.They are the ones who can sleep at night with a clear conscience.
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLoginMac.asp