By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The City of Bucyrus put the official settlement of a civil suit on the books Tuesday night.
Vicki Dishon, the city’s law clerk, filed a civil suit in December against Bucyrus City Council, Council President Sis Love, all current City Council members, and former council member Dan Wirebaugh. Dishon’s suit alleged that City Council had violated the Sunshine Law with inadequate records of committee meetings. The 96 counts ranged from failing to establish a reasonable method to determine the time and place of regular and special meetings to failing to state the purpose of special committee meetings. The meetings filed in the suit ranged from Dec. 18, 2012 to Sept. 2, 2014.
Dishon sought damages in the lawsuit.
The city chose to resolve the matter in order to avoid any additional litigation and expenses. City Council passed a resolution Tuesday night that gave a structured settlement in the amount of $20,300 to Dishon. The payments will be made in two annual installments of $10,000 and an additional payment of $300 for reimbursement of costs for filing the suit.
This was not the first time the city battled a civil suit. A 2003 lawsuit by Dishon, also accusing the City Council of Sunshine Law violations, was dismissed with prejudice. The city successfully defended itself against a civil suit filed by a Stark County man over Bucyrus Police Department telephone records.
Five other pieces of legislation were passed by City Council Tuesday night, including an issuance of $150,000 in notes – in the anticipation of the issuance of bonds – to purchase a new Waste Water Treatment Plant blower and control panel. The Service/Safety Director will advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the blower and controls.
An ordinance was also passed that amended Chapters 111 and 113 of the Council Rules and Procedures in the Bucyrus Codified Ordinances. Notably, the start time of the regular Bucyrus City Council meeting has been moved up by a half hour to 7 p.m.
A joint regular City Council committee meeting – which will consist of the Economic Development, Finance, Health and Safety, Platting, Public Lands and Buildings, and Service committees – will also be held at 6 p.m. on each Thursday following a regularly scheduled City Council meeting.