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Friday, March 9, 2012

City Manager Talks About Why Defamation Lawsuit Was Launched

City Manager Pat Woods, who's also a member of the Pension Board, testifying at the defamation trial of the effect allegations made about the Pension Board by former Common Councillor John Ferguson were having.

Woods says the references Ferguson made to Martha Stewart's legal difficulties raised the spectre of wrongdoing with the city's pension plan and rising deficit. 

Woods telling the jury Ferguson offered up no proof of gross negligence. Woods went on to say the Pension Board was under attack and couldn't just sit back.....Some action had to be taken in the face of the allegations because images and reputations were being damaged.

Woods also testified if Ferguson was told by former Pension Board trustee David Gould of wrongdoing, he had an obligation to pass that information along to other members of Common Council or city police but he didn't.