Politics & Government

Arnold Council Refuses to Pay for Independent Investigation

The council hired Protective & Investigative Services to conduct an investigation on a complaint by a city employee that she was harassed by a city councilman for more than two years.

The Arnold City Council has refused to pay for an independent investigation from a company it hired to investigate an employee's complaint about a hostile work environment.

. Boone says the harassment began after Moss' sister was fired from the Parks Department in 2010. 

At the council's last meeting, Ward 1 Councilwoman Doris Borgelt made a motion to remove the $6,800 payment to Protective & Investigative Services from the city's regular payment of bills. She called the report an "inferior product."

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The council voted 5-to-3 in favor of the motion. Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz and Ward 3 Councilmen Phil Amato and Paul Freese voted against the motion.

Moss, Borgelt, Ward 4 Councilwoman Sandra Kownacki, Ward 2 Councilwoman Michelle Hohmeier and Ward 1 Councilwomen Cricky Lang voted in favor of the move.

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Moritz asked City Attorney Bob Sweeney for his take on the matter.

"I think it looks like retaliation, but you've already done it," Sweeney said. "I would sue you."

In an interview after the meeting, Police Chief/Acting City Administrator Robert Shockey said the city attorney was probably right. "We'll get sued," he said.

Kevin Garrison of Protective and Investigative Services told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch there would be further action on the council's decision, but declined to elaborate.

The motion Borgelt made also included removing payment to Columbia Tree Service. Borgelt said the company, which was also hired by the city, did not have an Arnold business license.

Moritz said the tree service company, which has been used in the past, did the work it was asked to do and should be paid. 

"If someone made a mistake, it was the city," he said. "They did the service, pay the people, and then get the business license sorted out."

See previous articles: 

  • Cricky Lang: 'We Just Need to Get Past This'
  • Ken Moss: 'I Didn't Do Anything'
  • Moss Says He Was Asked to Resign in September
  • Arnold Park Director's Lawyer Files Second Complaint With State
  • Arnold Councilman to Call for Impeachment of Ken Moss?
  • Arnold Council Votes Down Acceptance of Harassment Investigation
  • Arnold Employee Files Harassment Complaint Against Councilman


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