Mayor Under Investigation, Hearing Set for May 5th
The First capitol News reported several editions ago that the Mayor signed a contract with Express Scripts which could obligate the City up to $200,000 without Council approval as required by law.
The City Council will begin holding investigative hearings regarding the alleged illegal signing of the contract on May 5th.
The City Council without knowledge of this entered into a contract with GHP which will provide the same service.
In June of 2004 Carrie Caskey, who was then the Human Resources Director for the City, brought a contract to the Mayor renewing an agreement with Express Scripts who provided prescription drugs to City employees. The contract was not due to be renewed and the legal department had not reviewed it nor had it been approved by the City Council as required by City ordinance. The Mayor went ahead and signed the contract. At the time of the signing the Council was working on a new insurance plan that would not have included Express Scripts. After the Council approved the new insurance plan Express Scripts informed the City they were going to hold the city to the terms of the Express Scripts contract signed by the Mayor ( alledged illegally).
When an attempt was made to cancel the contract alledgedly illegally signed by the Mayor, Express Scripts advised the City Administration it would take approximately $200,000 to buy out of the contract. A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who is the keeper of records for the City never received a copy of any such contract. No such contract had been approved by the City Council as required by ordinance.
By a vote of 10-0 during an Executive session of the City Council, the members agreed to start an investigation into the activities of the Mayor. The City Charter gives the City Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena witnesses and to bring action against elected officials or remove them from office.
The Council members are submitting a list of witnesses who will be called to testify during the hearing. The Council has the authority to subpoena witnesses who fail to respond to their request for testimony.
It is expected the hearing may extend over several nights. According to Councilman Mark Brown, representatives from the office of the Missouri Attorney General and the Division of Insurance may also be attending the hearing. Both agencies are looking into the insurance practices of the companies handling the insurance for the City of St. Charles.
If the Council determines the Mayor violated the City Charter or any Ordinances of the City they have the authority to bring charges against her and remove her from office if they find her guilty.
