Wichmann censure stands in Ocean View

Anyone who closed their eyes in Ocean View Town Council chambers this week, clicked their heels and repeated, “There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home,” might just have thought they had been transported back to 2006, as debate again focused on the censure of Councilman Bill Wichmann.

While there was no shoving or screaming this time out, it was apparent to all that strong feelings remain on both sides of the issue as it returned to the council under a proposal to repeal that 2006 censure. For many, the punishment didn’t fit the crime. For others still, there was no crime.

Those on the side of not repealing the censure have suggested in recent weeks, and did again on March 9, that digging up the past had little place in a town trying to move forward, as well as saying that looking at making exceptions for politicians isn’t the precedent the town should follow.

“As a resident and taxpayer, I entrust my money to council to manage it appropriately and to follow the rules of council in spending my money, and [Wichmann] failed to follow those rules,” said Kathy Vangazo. “And I don’t know that you would appreciate a council re-thinking and Monday-morning quarterbacking and undermining a decision you made. To lift a censure makes it right in the eyes of the people.”

Former councilmen Roy Thomas and Eric Magill, who were both on the council at the time of the censure, said repealing the past council’s decision would be the wrong thing to do. Resident Clif Mitchell likened it to giving someone a new trial with no new information, saying he was against the repeal.

“This is like a new trial with a new judge and a new jury but with no process, and no evidence. It’s inappropriate and it’s old,” Mitchell said.

On the other side of the debate, resident Elaine Birkmeyer offered that Wichmann is a man of “principle and integrity” and said his actions did not rise to the level of censure, which was a common sentiment among the supporters of the repeal.

Resident Frank Twardzik said that it takes a “big man” to admit he was wrong and a “giant man” to do it publicly in a letter, as former Mayor Gary Meredith did in starting the censure-repeal conversation in recent weeks. He also surmised that the censure had been as much about personal retaliation as it was about any wrongdoing.

“I thought the day of the censure was the darkest day in the history of Ocean View politics,” Twardzik said. “But I was wrong – for, on Aug. 12, 2008, that mark was surpassed by a resolution absolving several members of the council and the town manager of past alleged inappropriate action. This action was the covert hiring of an outside counsel without council approval in an attempt to break the existing legal contract of the chief of police.”

He pointed out that that resolution had been authored by the same councilman who authored the censure resolution – Thomas – and had passed with just a 3-2 vote. “In my opinion, this was self-serving motion was hypocrisy at its worst,” Twardzik added.

Police Chief Ken McLaughlin asked to be recognized during the citizens’ privilege period and twice addressed the crowd in saying he was fully confident that there had been no intentional wrongdoing on Wichmann’s part in the situation involving the emergency generator installed at the then-new public safety building.

“Without a doubt, there was nothing intentional, that is a fact,” McLaughlin stated emphatically. “Based on the facts as I know them, he did nothing intentionally wrong.”

There were some grumbles in the audience about the inappropriateness of the police chief speaking during citizens’ privilege, but he was nonetheless recognized as an employee of the town.

Wichmann on Tuesday also gave his account of what happened and thanked the people of the town and said to Meredith, “You are my friend. I think this bothers you more it does me,” adding that he did not want it to get in the way of their friendship.

He added that his only mistake back in 2006 was asking the contractor, “How long before we hook it up?” He also said that, while he helped former town manager Kathy Roth with quotes, he did not place the order – she did. Roth was not at the meeting on Tuesday.

“I don’t know what else to say, except, when I get out of bed tomorrow morning, I don’t have to be Roy Thomas,” Wichmann concluded.

Councilman Robert Lawless added that, in looking at the files dealing with the generator, “There is just no ‘there’ there.”

“He authorized the installation of a generator that had been purchased by the town manager,” Lawless said of Wichmann. “His crime was enthusiasm and maybe not following the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law was followed.”

Mayor Gordon Wood said he had not come to the decision of voting to repeal the censure easily. “I really do, really do, really do think this it reflects poorly on our town,” he said.

Councilman Richard Nippes said he did not feel comfortable repealing a decision he was not originally there to make. “I would be happy to render a decision if we tried the whole thing again. All we are hearing is a little bit of this and a little bit of that.”

Councilman Perry Mitchell had the same thoughts, adding that the council didn’t have all the facts – something Lawless challenged.

“There are files, minutes, memorandas and facts. The other council members have been offered an opportunity to make themselves intimately familiar with the facts,” Lawless asserted.

“This is where members of the council stand up in favor of a low bar,” commented Wood on the ease of maintaining the censure, “or a high bar. Abstaining is a walk in the park.”

Nippes and Mitchell did abstain, and Lawless and Wood voted in favor of repealing the censure. Wichmann did not vote. Because of the council’s own rules, they needed a majority – three yes votes – to repeal the censure, so the repeal was defeated.