Ellisville to Reimburse Residents for Lawsuit Costs
The Ellisville City Council reportedly voted to reimburse five residents for $1,000 in legal fees linked to a lawsuit filed by Councilman Matt Pirrello.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Ellisville City Council voted 4-2 Wednesday night to reimburse five residents for legal fees totaling $1,000. The fees are in connection to a lawsuit filed by Councilman Matt Pirrello.
As previously reported by Patch, the five residents requested reimbursement after they were named in a lawsuit by Councilman Matt Pirrello for petitioning for recall earlier this year.
The lawsuit, in which Pirrello claimed that Article 9 of Ellisville’s city charter was unconstitutional,was filed late August against the City of Ellisville and five residents who had been petitioning for the recall of Pirrello and council members Roze Acup, Dawn Anglin, Troy Pieper and Linda Reel. Recall action had been stirring after the council voted in favor of a Walmart project and tax increment financing (TIF) for the development.
According to the Post article, Mayor Adam Paul abstained from the vote that came after a "heated 30-minute discussion."
(Read Previous Article: Ellisville Residents Want City to Pay Attorney Fees After Charter Lawsuit)
*Local Editor Bryanna Hampton contributed to this report.
Caffeinated
10:25 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
From the P-D article:
"Council members Troy Pieper and Michelle Murray voted against the reimbursement. Pieper said using taxpayer monies to pay residents in a private matter is wrong, stating he feared it could start a precedent. "
Is Mr. Pieper also concerned about the precedent set by Pirrello in suing Ellisville residents to serve his own private agenda?
Ellisville Shopper
12:22 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Yeah. Mr. Pieper thinks this law suit was a "private" matter.
Pieper and others seem to misunderstand. The City of Ellisville AND the residents were on the same side of the case...being sued by Pirrello. The citizens were defendants along with the city.
"The lawsuit, in which Pirrello claimed that Article 9 of Ellisville’s city charter was unconstitutional,was filed late August against the City of Ellisville and five residents..."
Pieper probably still doesn't get it.
The City Council in open session also voted to reimburse Pirrello for $100, the cost of the bond he had to post when he filed the suit. Pieper had no problem voting "Yes" for that.
He will never see a second term as District 2 council member.
Nearly every voter over 60 (with the exception of little mike k) is gunning for him because he voted to send the elderly, disabled and retired people in those apartments packing.
Adam Quincy Paul
12:04 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
One would say using taxpayer money for private use (aka a developer) is called a TIF. Interesting to think about.... Have we started a precedence in regards to the use of TIFs, too?