Sun, Jul 20 2008
|
|
Published May 13, 2008 07:44 pm - City Manager Anthony Cantagallo doesn’t believe there’s a reason to investigate the truth. That’s the reason he didn’t go to council’s special meeting Monday night, he said. Cantagallo: No reason to search 'the truth' By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com Star Beacon ASHTABULA — City Manager Anthony Cantagallo doesn’t believe there’s a reason to investigate the truth.
That’s the reason he didn’t go to council’s special meeting Monday night, he said. City Council voted 5-2 to investigate a controversial Web site (www.ashtabulatruth.com) at the meeting. During emotional discussions, and sometimes heated banter, council decided to form a committee to find out who is behind the “truth.” Council suspects the involvement of the city manager and City Solicitor Michael Franklin, neither of whom attended the meeting. “They are never at meetings where there’s controversy,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Ericka Severino said Tuesday. Cantagallo said if someone feels strongly about this Web site, then make it right, right the wrongs. For example, if former city solicitor Thomas Simon doesn’t like his $30,000 delinquent tax bill appearing on the Web site, pay it. “Why investigate it?” Cantagallo said. “I don’t get the point.” The anonymous Web site states its purpose is to share with its readers “the truth” about the people who run the city, past and present. The site is particularly critical of Simon, union president Jack Fortune and police Capt. Gerald Cornelius and his wife, Marlene. Severino charges it’s not the content of the Web site that is so disturbing but rather the possibility of public officials using city computers on city time to publish it. Franklin’s name and the name of his private office secretary first appeared as the Web site’s creators, although Franklin denied it. Severino said when she called Franklin’s private office and told them she was “on to them,” the Web site creators’ names changed to the names of past U.S. presidents. Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Lattimer agrees city computers should not be used to publish unofficial Web sites. She argued anyone could have put Franklin’s name on the ashtabulatruth.com Web site. Council vice president Betty Kist said it’s clear Franklin’s name once showed up on the Web site, and consequently, she made a motion to investigate it. Ward 1 Councilman Joseph Rose seconded the motion. Simon said Franklin has denied owning the Web site but did not deny facilitating it. “There’s a connection to City Hall,” Simon said. Franklin was out of the office Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Youths say they didn’t start fire Jungle Terry plays to a packed house |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
© 2007, Ashtabula Star Beacon P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback |
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service 
|