Posted on Nov 25, 2023
Prairie Village council dismisses ethics complaints against mayor and 5 council members
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The complaints were filed nearly two months ago by resident Mike Sullinger, who has been a frequent critic of the council amid the ongoing debate over affordable housing and zoning changes. Sullinger claimed that the mayor and half the council had conflicts of interest, but members unanimously voted to dismiss the complaints.
Members of the Prairie Village City Council on Monday unanimously dismissed a series of ethics complaints filed against the mayor and five councilmembers.
The complaints were filed nearly two months ago by resident Mike Sullinger, who has been a frequent critic of the council both in person and on social media as the debate about the city’s controversial housing policy raged in the lead up to this fall’s city council elections.
At the same time, the council on Monday decided to table a separate discussion about updating the city’s code of ethics, which hasn’t been revised since 2008.
Councilmembers said they had heard from multiple residents who thought it would be more proper for four newly elected councilmembers to be seated before the body took up changes to the code of ethics, including a provision that would make it easier to dismiss “frivolous” complaints in the future.
Members of the Prairie Village City Council on Monday unanimously dismissed a series of ethics complaints filed against the mayor and five councilmembers.
The complaints were filed nearly two months ago by resident Mike Sullinger, who has been a frequent critic of the council both in person and on social media as the debate about the city’s controversial housing policy raged in the lead up to this fall’s city council elections.
At the same time, the council on Monday decided to table a separate discussion about updating the city’s code of ethics, which hasn’t been revised since 2008.
Councilmembers said they had heard from multiple residents who thought it would be more proper for four newly elected councilmembers to be seated before the body took up changes to the code of ethics, including a provision that would make it easier to dismiss “frivolous” complaints in the future.
Prairie Village council dismisses ethics complaints against mayor and 5 council members
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."City attorney recommended that council dismiss complaints
In his complaint, Sullinger contended that the mayor and five of the governing body’s 10 councilmembers had various conflicts of interest when it came to housing either because of their connections to United Community Services of Johnson County, a nonprofit that has a focus on attainable housing, or due to opinions they expressed about housing and other matters online.
But, as city attorney David Waters told the council Monday, none of the issues Sullinger honed in on in the eight-page memorandum filed with the city on Sept. 20, represented clear violations of the city’s current ethics policy.
“Many [of Sullinger’s] complaints appear to be based on more personal, political or policy disagreements, and we do not believe those are the types of disagreements that by themselves can generally support a violation under the code of ethics,” Waters said in his explanation of his recommendation that the complaints be dismissed."...
..."City attorney recommended that council dismiss complaints
In his complaint, Sullinger contended that the mayor and five of the governing body’s 10 councilmembers had various conflicts of interest when it came to housing either because of their connections to United Community Services of Johnson County, a nonprofit that has a focus on attainable housing, or due to opinions they expressed about housing and other matters online.
But, as city attorney David Waters told the council Monday, none of the issues Sullinger honed in on in the eight-page memorandum filed with the city on Sept. 20, represented clear violations of the city’s current ethics policy.
“Many [of Sullinger’s] complaints appear to be based on more personal, political or policy disagreements, and we do not believe those are the types of disagreements that by themselves can generally support a violation under the code of ethics,” Waters said in his explanation of his recommendation that the complaints be dismissed."...
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