Conneaut councilman turns over e-mail and identity to attorney

By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

CONNEAUT June 26, 2009 10:49 pm

— Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell on Friday turned over an e-mail message — complete with the sender’s identity — to the attorney of Conneaut’s Public Works Department director.
Attorney Nicholas Iarocci late Friday afternoon acknowledged delivery of the material late Friday afternoon. Iarocci said he hadn’t had a chance to confer with client Bob Howland to see if the information is complete and satisfactory. If the data is lacking, a contempt filing against Campbell in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court could proceed as planned, he said.
Howland sued Campbell in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court to obtain all pertinent information related to a message Campbell received from a city employee early this year. Howland filed the suit after Campbell refused to provide the message via Howland’s public records request.
Recently, Judge Ronald Vettel ruled Campbell must immediately release the information to Iarocci or Howland. On Thursday, Iarocci said he would file a contempt action if Campbell didn’t comply with the judge’s order by the end of business on Friday.
Initially, Campbell on Friday provided the message without the sender’s name, Iarocci said. When told the name must be included to satisfy the judge’s order and a contempt filing would follow, Campbell provided the identity, Iarocci said.
In a statement e-mailed to local media Friday afternoon, Campbell said the sender of the original message gave permission to release the name. Campbell, in the statement, added the union that represents the worker “will be prepared to make a formal statement and provide additional information the Public Works Department.”
Even if the information relayed by Campbell proves complete, a July 17 hearing before Vettel will proceed as planned, Iarocci said. That matter is to discuss attorney fees and court costs stemming from the lawsuit, Iarocci said.
Campbell has said his defense will be handled by the city’s insurance carrier. Iarocci said he understands that is not the case.
Law Director Lori Lamer has said the city is not obligated to pay Campbell’s legal bills because he disregarded her advice on the matter. Lamer informed Campbell the e-mail was a public record because it dealt with a public work project and he had referred to it at meetings and on a local talk show.
Iarocci declined to speculate on the union reaction Campbell mentioned in his statement. “Everything Mr. Campbell has said (regarding the e-mail matter) has been false and in violation of the law,” Iarocci said.
At issue is a message Campbell received early this year regarding a guardrail installation project on Keefus Road completed by a private company. The message indicated the Public Works Department had material on hand to handle the project without the expense of an outside help.
In his statement, Campbell expressed hope the situation will be settled quickly. “I remain optimistic this distraction will end soon and will again allow me to concentrate on business growth and job creation,” he wrote.