Democratic City Councilor Ed Adrian is calling on Mayor Bob Kiss to place his top administrator on unpaid leave while a full investigation is conducted into how the city loaned $17 million to Burlington Telecom.
The $17 million loan from the city to BT was first reported in “Fair Game” several weeks ago, and its revelation has released a torrent of criticism from the general public to top state regulators.
Kiss yesterday said he would support an independent audit of Burlington Telecom’s finances. The city council meets tonight in a special session to discuss the recent spate of news related to BT.
Adrian informed Kiss’ office this afternoon about his request, and had a half-hour talk with the mayor’s assistant, Joe Reinert.
In his letter, Adrian said BT is at a critical turning point and making the wrong decision could spell doom for the fledgling telecom venture.
“BT may stillbe a viable venture for Burlington, but it has become clear to me overthe last month that it has been mismanaged and that the CAO isresponsible for this mismanagement,” wrote Adrian. “For the people of Burlington, the City, andBT, I would encourage you to move forward and support a leave of absencefor the CAO and an independent investigation that will determine themistakes that were made and keep BT from making similar errors in thefuture.”
Adrian told Seven Days the leave of absence should last as long as it takes to conduct a review of Chief Administrative Officer Jonathan Leopold’s actions.
This article appears in Oct 21-27, 2009.
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How about Terminating Chris Burns employment as well he appears to be completely in competent as a manager.Ed,I believe that you should call for Bob Kisses resignation as well. He has been complicit in all of the shennanigans surrounding Burlington Telecom. Kiss fails miserably when it comes to understand living by the rule of law. Bob Kiss and Jonathan Leopold are not allowed to steal 500 dollars from a citizen let alone every citizen in the city just because they think they have a good idea.
Ed Adrian is the biggest showboater there ever was. He could care less if BT fails. He just wants Progressives to fail.
“He could care less if BT fails.”If he wanted BT to fail, he’d write a letter demanding that Leopold NOT be put on leave. Progressives are handling the failing all by themselves – Milk Co., Burlington pensions, and now this.
He’s showboating and it’s to the detriment of BT. It’s another example of using the greatest finanical crisis since the great depression for political gain. Luckily he always shoots himself in the foot.
Whether or not Adrian is a showboater is not the issue at this time. Leopold cavalierly broke laws. Even showboaters are sometimes right: Leopold should be terminated. Immediately. And then prosecuted.
Not illegal to violate a condition of a CPG, no one can be charged with any “crime”. Stop the hyperbole and exaggeration. Ed is a showboater for sure. As for sticking it to BT… you like Comcast and Fairpoint eh? I say there isn’t enough of my tax money to give to put them out of business. Public utilities now!
It’s totally and completely illegal to violate a condition of a permit you fool! And it’s also a violation of the Burlington City Charter!Bet you defended Nixon, too, eh?Your blind allegiance to someone who wears the Prog label is pathetic.