holyoke city council letter to attorney general maura healey

H O L YO KE Q/K a s s a c A u s e s 01040 CITY COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE KEVIN A. JOURDAIN 18 RAYMOND AVENUE HOLYOKE, MA 01040 TEL (413)538-5519 [email protected] FIRST CLASS MAIL & EMAIL April 29, 2015 Attorney General Maura Healey Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108-1518 [email protected] Dear Attorney General Healey, I am writing to you on a matter of importance to the Holyoke City Council. On the City Council adopted the following resolution making a public request of your "The City Council requests the Attorney General's Office conduct an independent in the reason(s) for the $45,000 payment made by Mayor Alex B. Morse to former City S Egan and to make sure that there was nothing unethical, illegal, or improper associ payment. The investigations should focus on the reason(s) the payment was made to it was made in the best interests of the tax payers of the City of Holyoke." On or about April 29, 2014, the City Solicitor resigned her office as part of agreement with Mayor Morse. The Mayor through this agreement ordered her to be pai cash payment, as well as, agreed to pay her an additional sum in uncontested unemp compensation. Local media has made numerous FOIA requests to ascertain the communications o parties in an attempt to derive the intent of the parties in forming this agreement has been silent as to the reasons for making such an agreement except for a genera he felt it was in the best interest of the city and that he is precluded by the agr further details. The City Council was very displeased with the general lack of tra issue and the resolution as worded above followed. If your office can look into the matter to make sure it was not unethical, ill would be greatly appreciated. We would appreciate your findings in writing. If you feel another state agency would be better suited to handle this matter then please advise us accordingly.

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Holyoke City Council letter to Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey regarding Morse-Egan separation agreement:

TRANSCRIPT

H O L YO KE Q/K a s s a c A u

s e s 01040 CITY COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE

KEVIN A. JOURDAIN 18 RAYMOND AVENUE HOLYOKE, MA 01040 TEL (413)538-5519

[email protected]

FIRST CLASS MAIL & EMAIL

April 29, 2015

Attorney General Maura Healey Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108-1518 [email protected]

Dear Attorney General Healey,

I am writing to you on a matter of importance to the Holyoke City Council. On March 17, 2015, the City Council adopted the following resolution making a public request of your office as follows:

"The City Council requests the Attorney General's Office conduct an independent investigation into the reason(s) for the $45,000 payment made by Mayor Alex B. Morse to former City Solicitor Heather Egan and to make sure that there was nothing unethical, illegal, or improper associated with said payment. The investigations should focus on the reason(s) the payment was made to guarantee that it was made in the best interests of the tax payers of the City of Holyoke."

On or about April 29, 2014, the City Solicitor resigned her office as part of her separation agreement with Mayor Morse. The Mayor through this agreement ordered her to be paid a $45,000 cash payment, as well as, agreed to pay her an additional sum in uncontested unemployment compensation.

Local media has made numerous FOIA requests to ascertain the communications of the parties in an attempt to derive the intent of the parties in forming this agreement. The mayor to date has been silent as to the reasons for making such an agreement except for a general statement that he felt it was in the best interest of the city and that he is precluded by the agreement from going into further details. The City Council was very displeased with the general lack of transparency on the issue and the resolution as worded above followed.

If your office can look into the matter to make sure it was not unethical, illegal or improper, it would be greatly appreciated. We would appreciate your findings in writing.

If you feel another state agency would be better suited to handle this matter in whole or in part, then please advise us accordingly.
If you need further information or have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

With warmest regards.

Kevin A. Jour(rain Holyoke City Council President

End. (copy of 4/29/14 separation agreement)

cc. Holyoke City Council Holyoke City Clerk Mayor Alex Morse