Community Corner

Royal Oak Commisssion Rescinds Investigation of Former Mayor Pro-Tem

City Attorney Dave Gillam says an investigation into Patricia Capello's activities at the Royal Oak Animal Shelter is now a moot point.

A couple of last minute housekeeping items were added to the Royal Oak City Commission's agenda Tuesday night in light of Patricia Capello's resignation Monday.

At a scheduled special budget meeting, City Attorney Dave Gillam recommended the commission formally accept the resignation of the former mayor pro-tem and rescind its resolution to conduct an investigation into whether or not she violated the city charter and/or the city's ethics ordinance.

Capello is accused of "bullying" by former employees at the Royal Oak Animal Shelter.

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"My recommendation at this point is for the city to formally accept that resignation," Gilliam said. "That will formalize the resignation and create the actual vacancy on the commission. It will allow the commission, if it chooses to do so, to actually go forward with filling the vacant seat."

Gillam also indicated he sent an email to commissioners last Friday afternoon stating he had retained outside counsel for the investigation. 

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"I was in the process of compiling background information to send to the retired judge that was going to handle the investigation for us. I had not actually forwarded that information, so at this point, while we have retained outside counsel, we haven't actually spent any money," said Gillam, adding in the past the amount of money spent on investigations has been a sensitive issue.

Gillam recommended that since Capello is no longer a member of the body that the city not go forward with the investigation.

"The issue has never been with the operation of the animal shelter...the issue is the conduct of this particular individual. Again, in light of the resignation it's kind of a moot point," Gillam said.

Commissioner Jim Rasor stated his concern that the commission would not learn any lessons.

"We have some allegations from employees that a commissioner interfered with their operations, directed down, bullied them. I don't know if it's true or not, but my theory is if we don't do anything anything about this, we won't learn anything from it," Rasor said. "To me it's been about the lesson."

Indicating the need for some sort of postmortem, Rasor wanted to know if now that Capello is no longer a member of the commission if it is a conflict of interest for staff to look into her activities at the animal shelter.

In light of Capello's resignation, Gillam stated there is no longer a conflict for city manager's office or his own.

"That's very helpful information," Rasor said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to rescind the resolution to conduct an investigation with outside counsel.


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