The Shadow
Covington City Council has named B. Clayton Goodman of Roanoke as interim city manager.
Goodman’s appointment was approved during a busy February work session/ called meeting held in council chambers Tuesday night.
In addition to Goodman’s appointment, council listened to comments from Covington residents over Covington Division of Police concerns and worries regarding the recent resignations of City Manager Richard Douglas and Covington Division of Police Chief Anthony Morgan.
In order to name Goodman interim city manager, Mayor Tom Sibold had to call the work session portion of the meeting closed, then open a special called meeting in order to vote to approve the appointment of the interim city manager.
Goodman’s appointment was approved by a 5-0 vote. He will come to Covington after last serving as Craig County administrator from September 2014 through November 2017.
Goodman has 40 years of experience serving as a chief administrative officer in local government.
In addition to Craig County, Goodman has served in Roanoke County, Montgomery County, Vinton and Buena Vista.
Prior to his career in local government, Goodman graduated from Virginia Tech in 1977 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and in 1980 from West Virginia University with a master’s degree in public administration.
When learning of his appointment as interim city manager, Goodman said, “I?want to thank the Covington City Council for offering me the opportunity to serve the Covington community as interim city manager. I?look forward to working with the citizens, employees and council members in the coming months.”
Goodman did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.
Sibold gave a brief statement addressing the state of Covington following Good-man’s appointment.
“We have a lot of good things going on in the city of Covington right now and we have some momentum,”?Sibold said.
“My intention and council’s intention is to move forward as fast as we can and do the things that we’ve been doing. I?have confidence that the police department will keep on the same course that they’re on,”?Sibold continued.
Sibold also mentioned that there are 15 projects that Douglas started prior to his resignation last week.
“We’re making plans to keep everything going forward just like it was going before,”?Sibold said.
Following Goodman’s appointment and Sibold’s statements regarding the state of the city, the time came for citizen comments.
The first person to speak was Lisa Tucker, who addressed council regarding her concerns over the police department.
Tucker stated, “After learning of Chief Morgan’s decision to accept his position in Maryland and leave our community, a lot of citizens are concerned that the police department will fall back into the past.”
Morgan also submitted his resignation to council last week.
Tucker continued her address by saying, “Let’s be realistic, you still have officers in the department that have played a major role in the 2017 assessment of the police department.”
Tucker proposed a recommendation of forming a civilian review board that would be set up by the city and consist of Covington citizens, excluding those in law enforcement.
Tucker said the review board would act as an oversight committee for complaints against the police department and all of its employees.
She envisions this group holding police officers accountable for wrongdoing.
Another big reason Tucker wants this review board is because she feels that police officers policing themselves presents a possible conflict of interest.
“Having police officers policing themselves presents obvious conflicts of interest. While having civilians conduct these investigations, it will provide an external check on the Covington Division of Police,”?Tucker said.
Tucker said her proposed civilian review board will have complaint allegations divided into three categories — investigations of force, procedural misconduct and discourtesy.
“It will act as a voice for the people, the voters and the citizens of our community, which otherwise may never be heard,”?Tucker said.
The next individual to present their concerns regarding the Covington Division of Police was Kathy Downey.
Downey expressed her concerns over findings what was stated in the initial assessment of the Covington Division of Police that took place in 2017.
One concern that Downey had was the use of city money to pay an outside source to perform the assessment and get the police department lined up for accreditation.
Another concern Downey had was the lack of availability of the assessment.
Downey stated that she was able to find it after hours of internet research.
Another major concern Downey had based on her research and study of the assessment was money budgeted for overtime pay.
Downey cited an example where $40,000 was budgeted for overtime pay for a stretch of consecutive fiscal years. In each fiscal year, more money was spent than budgeted.
Downey expressed her disbelief over the situation by stating, “This information should be available on your website so the citizens won’t find out this information in this way [public meeting].”
The last person to speak during Tuesday’s meeting was former Covington Mayor Temple Kessinger.
When Kessinger was reminded of the three minute time limit in which he had to speak, he responded by saying, “I’m taking 10 [minutes], I’m with good company.”
Those comments drew laughter from those in attendance, but Kessinger’s tone changed when he expressed his concerns over the recent events that have taken place in Covington.
“I have a problem with what’s going on. I?don’t like the chief of police leaving. I?talked to him, I didn’t like what I?heard. I’ve talked to Richard Douglas, I didn’t like what he had to say,”?Kessinger said.
Kessinger continued, “I think that someone that is trying to attract industry and small business to get this place moving has no business in creating an atmosphere like we’re creating here of losing two of our top employees.”
Kessinger then said to council that if there was a reason to terminate Douglas, he hoped that there was a way to back that up.
Sibold then informed Kessinger that Douglas resigned from his position.
“Tommy, you’re not talking to the guy that fell off the turnip truck,”?Kessinger said to Sibold.
“I’m just telling you what happened, Temple,”?Sibold responded.
Kessinger then said, “I’m not going to argue with you. I’m not here to do that. In my mind after talking to him, he did not resign, but he resigned under duress. I?hope you’re willing to compensate him, I?think it’s terrible.”
Following Kessinger’s remarks, city council adjourned into closed session where no action was taken.
The following items were added to the agenda for next Tuesday’s regular meeting:
— Dr. Paul Linkenhoker regarding the Industrial Revitalization Fund;
— To consider adoption of the Emergency Operation Plan;
— To consider a request of Covington City School Board for an appropriation of $45,911;
— To consider Appropriation Resolution R-19-11 regarding E-911 CAD/RMS software in the amount of $50,000;
— To consider Appropriation Resolution R-19-12 for Next Generation 911 software Part 2-AT&T ESInet Solution Participation Agreement;
— To consider an ordinance regarding IDA;
— Eddy Clemons, chairman of the Covington City School Board;
— Appropriation Resolution regarding a grant from The Alleghany Foundation for the Jackson River Sport Complex/Paper Trail in the amount of $45,000;
— Appropriation to the Covington Rescue Squad to fund EMT?training;
— To hold a closed session pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act Sec. 2.2-3711 (A)(3) regarding real property/real estate.
