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City building official apologizes for conduct
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
After listening to the tapes from the June 23 City Council meeting, Benson Building Official Mike Lockett expressed regret for his behavior.
In a June 27 letter addressed to the Benson City Council and City Manager Martin Roush, Lockett apologized for becoming defensive and agitated at questions from Mayor Mark Fenn and Councilman Al Sacco.
"I've listened to the tape many times over the last week. I apologize for the tone I used as well as my demeanor while addressing the Mayor and Council regarding the condemnation procedures," Lockett said in the letter. "That was very unprofessional of me. I should give elected officials the respect they have earned. I am truly very sorry for that. In the future, I will do my best to not let this happen again. I will be the professional that the city has hired to carry out the duties of my position, as I have for the last 10 years."
The June 23 meeting became heated between Lockett and members of the City Council as he was questioned on the procedure he followed in condemning the Butterfield Plaza, (Safeway Shopping center) on 4th Street.
The questioning came from Mayor Fenn and Sacco, who said they were concerned that Lockett had put the city in a position that could lead to legal action.
As Fenn tried to ask several questions, Lockett interrupted on a couple of occasions. The mayor told him to stop interrupting while he had the floor.
While the majority of the council said they did not appreciate Lockett's tone and pointed out that such behavior would not be accepted in the future, others said they did not like the way Fenn and Sacco questioned Lockett.
Councilwomen Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton said they felt Lockett had been blindsided, because that's how they felt. The two defended Lockett's actions in the discussion-only agenda item.
Councilman John Lodzinski said while he did not like Lockett's behavior, he also did not like that Fenn and Sacco behaved unprofessionally.
Discussions over the condemnation have continued with the council discussing the matter in executive session in which the public is excluded.
Following the 45-minute closed-door meeting, the council returned and heard a brief presentation from Brown and Associates, a third-party engineering firm the city is contracting with to insure Butterfield Plaza is in compliance with city building codes.
The council was informed that site plans have been submitted and Lockett promised that to avoid problems like they have had over the last month he would update the council on the progress regularly.
After listening to the tapes from the June 23 City Council meeting, Benson Building Official Mike Lockett expressed regret for his behavior.
In a June 27 letter addressed to the Benson City Council and City Manager Martin Roush, Lockett apologized for becoming defensive and agitated at questions from Mayor Mark Fenn and Councilman Al Sacco.
"I've listened to the tape many times over the last week. I apologize for the tone I used as well as my demeanor while addressing the Mayor and Council regarding the condemnation procedures," Lockett said in the letter. "That was very unprofessional of me. I should give elected officials the respect they have earned. I am truly very sorry for that. In the future, I will do my best to not let this happen again. I will be the professional that the city has hired to carry out the duties of my position, as I have for the last 10 years."
The June 23 meeting became heated between Lockett and members of the City Council as he was questioned on the procedure he followed in condemning the Butterfield Plaza, (Safeway Shopping center) on 4th Street.
The questioning came from Mayor Fenn and Sacco, who said they were concerned that Lockett had put the city in a position that could lead to legal action.
As Fenn tried to ask several questions, Lockett interrupted on a couple of occasions. The mayor told him to stop interrupting while he had the floor.
While the majority of the council said they did not appreciate Lockett's tone and pointed out that such behavior would not be accepted in the future, others said they did not like the way Fenn and Sacco questioned Lockett.
Councilwomen Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton said they felt Lockett had been blindsided, because that's how they felt. The two defended Lockett's actions in the discussion-only agenda item.
Councilman John Lodzinski said while he did not like Lockett's behavior, he also did not like that Fenn and Sacco behaved unprofessionally.
Discussions over the condemnation have continued with the council discussing the matter in executive session in which the public is excluded.
Following the 45-minute closed-door meeting, the council returned and heard a brief presentation from Brown and Associates, a third-party engineering firm the city is contracting with to insure Butterfield Plaza is in compliance with city building codes.
The council was informed that site plans have been submitted and Lockett promised that to avoid problems like they have had over the last month he would update the council on the progress regularly.
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