By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Former New Washington police officer Benjamin Goff didn’t attend Monday’s New Washington Village Council meeting, but his attorney did.
Attorney Paul Cushion was at the meeting as Goff’s legal representative and made a presentation in Goff’s absence and asked that his dismissal be given further consideration.
Cushion attributed Goff’s absence to his fear of being arrested if he had come. Cushion added that the Village Council has neither endorsed nor failed to endorse the dismissal of Goff, and that he would like this situation to be addressed. He also expressed dismay at the way the dismissal was handled, and that the “power structure” in place led to Goff’s dismissal and no reprisals for Police Chief Scott Robertson.
“The Chief could and should have been investigated,” Cushion continued, and asked the before any action is taken in court, that this matter be looked into.
The meeting between the interested parties in the tropical bird situation has yet to take place, with one of the parties having failed to return attempted contacts from the Chief Robertson. Council is considering sending a letter to this party with a time for the meeting, and if that group wishes to be represented they can attend. This will allow for the meeting to go ahead for the parties that are interested in seeing it go ahead.
The newly leaning gazebo has been looked at by the village with plans in place to correct its tilt. Village Clerk Julie Cronau informed council that when some of the wooden portions of the structure were traded out for plastic, the gazebo lost some of its stability. Studer-Obringer has looked at reinforcing that part of the structure and using a vehicle to “push” the gazebo back to its proper angle.
The next council meeting will be 7 p.m. on Dec. 23, in the Village Hall.